Top Five Tuesday: A little bit of bliss

I go to the post office often.  I mail letters and packages and pick up stamps.  But first I put everything aside, take out my stationery, my special pens, and pretty labels.  If I'm packaging an order, I almost get more into that than I do making the pieces going out to ship.  I love mail.  I love receiving it.   I love sending it out. 
So today at the post office, the new postal worker there complimented the labels on the cards I was mailing out.  Her mouth gaping open, drooling over the beauty and the sparkle.  I take credit for none of it... just for sticking them on there.  The credit goes to Papaya Art.  Mentioned in this here blog a few times in the past ( and...er... in yesterday's post), this company makes the most heart thumping goodies for the home, for mailing, for staring off into.  And then I received a lovely card in the mail from my soon-to-be sister in law with one of Papaya's cards enclosed.  Dreamy.  It just seems right to honor this gorgeous resource for this week's Top Five Tuesday.  Enjoy.  Stare off.  Feel blissed out.  Go ahead.  You deserve it.

(1) wrapping paper (2) wall art (3) gift tags (4) card/envelope sets (5) journals

p.s. I've been steadily, tirelessly working on the Fall/Winter collection for launch in late August.  I'm so excited for it all and hope you'll love it as much as I do creating it.  Will keep you posted!

Word for the Week... Thanks

This week, it's all about being thankful.... thankful for the sun that just finally popped out, for the space I have to create, for the nice new neighbors.  And then more thanks for the little pink aster flower that bloomed this morning, for the coffee from the awesome people at the coffee shop down the street, for the people who put up with me, keep me and still love me despite myself, and for songs like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjDu3E5zDks

Have a week filled up and over with appreciation for the good.  It's very easy to get sidetracked and we all need a little kinder, gentler push to see the beauty.

Thank you print by Papaya Art
Merci from Nouveau Nancy

Into the weekend...

This week, I had a couple of moments where I wished I didn't feel compelled to rant on about this or that.  I wish I had been less feisty and more positive about the state of the world and so on (damn you,  angry drivers and Sarah Palin!).  Now I'm going to make up for it.  Here are some things that are making me look at the world, and its sum parts, with a lighter attitude...

These note cards

Avocado popsicles

This colorful website

This room.

And, if I may add... this non-sunshiny day ripe for nestling indoors and making things, this sleepy dog at my feet, and this moment in which I take a perfectly deep breath.
Happy weekend.
Love,
Cath

(photo: Marie Claire Maison)

To dream...

Is it too cheesy to pretend this is me?  Oh, and also to pretend that I can actually safely drive a vespa?

(poster source)

Top Five Tuesday: Gifts for Dad

It's almost not Tuesday anymore, but it is still Tuesday here in California and in Tegucigalpa, Honduras (I looked it up.).  So I can get away with this post for just about another 43 minutes Honduras time/ 1 hour and 43 minutes California time.  And given that Father's Day is right around the corner and I'm a big fan of really great dads (especially my own), I thought I'd share some cool gift ideas for these wonderful men in our lives.  Here ya go:

Credits:
(1)Whiskey cologne: Portland General Store
(2) Flask belt buckle: Edwardian Renaissance 
(3) Geek Dad book
(4) Cycling book
(5) Shave kit: Dirty Deeds Soap

Word for the Week: Intermission

 (photo source here.)

I don't think any other word can describe the necessity inherent in this week's word.  The hubs keeps trying to get me to take a week off, but I know that a staycation, or whatever the kids are calling it these days, won't be happening any time soon.  So, instead, I'm taking an intermission- which still allows me to stop and assess while, simultaneously, getting enough work done so that I won't feel like a slacker or ignore my customers.  So what I'll be doing is this: ordering all remaining materials to construct the Fall/Winter collection, finalizing the photographer and shoot date and will step back, breathe, and then let it all fit into place.  My intermission happens during those breathes and the observing.  It's a little bit like stopping to smell the roses, but in my case, I'll stop and smell the lavender and mint and rosemary growing in our yard and watch the ladybugs and butterflies.  This week I'm trusting that the moments in between the breathes and the observing will unleash a love bomb of awesomeness.
Love,
Cath
p.s. I've taken the comments section out of the blog mostly because recently I've had issues with them being randomly deleted along with a few posts ( Is mercury in retrograde again or something?  Because I've been having problems with both FB and my emails, too.  I think I'm the antithesis of technologically capable.).  I will be opening the comments to select posts, like giveaways, but if you'd like to get in touch with me... always feel free to shoot me an email (info@CiaraObscura.com).  Also... Feel free to share through your preferred social network site by clicking on the tab below...Neat!

Into the weekend...

How about these pretty images to take you into the weekend? 

 

We have so many opportunities to find and be beauty.  I hope you find much of this in your adventures this weekend.

All photos from AdornVintage's blog

Nice.

Maybe these two images don't, technically, normally go together.  But today they do.

(Image credits: room source HERE and cupcake photo HERE)

The color of chaos

If I can just get passed freaking out that these super balls might go straight into the bay and take out every bicyclist and elderly person with a can or walker, I can enjoy the sheer beauty of the bouncing colors (and that frog!). 

Top Five Tuesday:: Food!

I took the day off yesterday.  Most of the day.  I probably shouldn't have ended it off with bills and taking care of organizing finances.  But the first chunk of the day, we slept in, ate a breakfast at IHOP and took the dog for a long walk.  Also, I skipped the Word for the Week blog post, so you're free to conjure up your own this week.  Meantime, this Top Five Tuesday includes the new "bagged lunch" food craze that's everywhere now... food in a jar.  Fun to bring to work, school, a picnic... Neat.

(Photos (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) )

Into the weekend...

What are you up to this weekend, Dear Readers?  Something that makes you feel alive and energized, I hope.
I'll be doing the usual work, but will be sure to get lots of my creative juices flowing... shmoosh some materials together and make art, have a drink or two downtown with a pal tonight, and- of course- dance.

Wishing you the most colorful weekend and then... into Summer we dive... Yay!

( photo credits: (1) and (2) )

Yes, ma'am.

 

These images are what's making me happy today.

 (Look at how Johnny Depp is checking out Iggy Pop (circa 1996).  Hilarious.)

(top photo credit here.)

Impromptu Dancing

I'm feeling a bit like this today. 

I think I love her...

dancing with strangers from katie sokoler on Vimeo.

Ever see her blog?  You should check it out... your day will be totally made.

Taking a much needed day off today and am off on a road trip south for the afternoon.

Top Five Tuesday:: Shoes!

I'm not what one would call a shoe fiend, though I do admire a well orchestrated pair.  Nix away skinny high heels... I'd just be glutton for getting them caught in a crack on the sidewalk or embarrassingly tripping over a hardly there teeny tiny pebble. No.  I'm more of a thicker heeled kind of girl... one where I have a better chance at balancing on something that I won't fear will violently stab through my heel mid step.  Pretty?  Yes, please sign me up..  Dangerous heels?  Oh, hell no.  Here's my perfect medium:

(shoes from Liebling)

Word for the Week: Serendipity

 (Farouche)

It's been a long while since I've written or voiced this word.  I don't like to overuse it... much like that of the word "amazing" or "cute".  But it popped in my head just right now and so I'm going with it since, for that very reason, it seems most appropriate.  I live by serendipity and my belly and my heart flip every single time I am aware of it happening.  It's a pretty neat occurrence and I invite it in anytime, anywhere.  It's the extra hope that propels us along...

Into the Weekend...

Woke up to sunshine and birds singing.  That was nice.

Next up... green tea with honey, prepping a couple of orders to mail out, hair cut, eye brow wax, coffee, work on details for Fall/Winter designs, finish up a couple more orders, sip coffee, pet dog in the sunshine, work on designs some more, sip coffee, line up blog posts for next week, laundry, sip coffee (yes, one cup lasts me the whole day), and then head out to a neat art show (artwork by teens mentored by local artists... should be pretty great.).  What does your Friday look like?

Happy weekend...

(Image: Delovely Arts)

Behind the Design:: Vivian Maier

It's safe to say that I have a new obsession.  And it is Vivian Maier.   I don't think I'm the only one newly captivated by her and her work.  Within just the past year or two, her very existence  has been brought out to the art world at large, and there has been something of a frenzy swirling around her name and boat loads of questions about who she was.  What we do know is that Maier was a nanny in New York and then in Chicago, but her newly evolving legendary status has developed from about 100,000 never before known negatives and photographs purchased randomly at an auction by a realtor looking for research on a book on a completely different subject altogether.  This clip, from the blog that houses her astounding photography, gives brief background into what all the fuss is about HERE.
And until a book on her work gets published these photos will have to sustain me in the meantime...

(Photo credit: Vivian Maier)

Top Five Tuesday:: Bocage

I love Bocage.  I do.  Take, for one, it's tag line: A movable feast of treasures for discerning designers.  I think that's pretty great.  It's also true.  I've scored some serious way hard to find materials through Bocage and am always totally inspired to create once these treasures are in my hands.  Here are five of my picks to entice you...

(1.) Buttons (2.) Seed beads (3.) Feathers (4.) Ribbon (5.) Charms

Treat yourself to something HERE!

Word for the Week: Mars (the Dog)

 

Mars turned 4 (or 28) today.  But he's still all puppy.  Except that he's matured into a very well behaved (though excitable) semi-grown up.  At any rate, it's his birthday today and because I get way too into things like this, I made him another hat this year and have humiliated him (again this year) by forcing him to wear the hat and pose for the camera.  He was pissed.  He just wanted the treat and the new toy that were being dangled near the camera.  Does this make me a bad mom?  I hope not.

Good boy, Marsy!