Paper Mountain majesties

late to the game with these, but I love them all the same! totems by Paper Mountain

Winter Mix

I've created a winter mix which you can listen to as you lay about digesting your Holiday meals or as you veg out and relax. Enjoy, and have a great Holiday!

■ DOWNLOAD ■
20mb.17min

Etc...

It is -3 today in Chicago (windchill of -30 or something crazy like that). While we're used to it here, it makes Holiday errands MUCH more difficult! Hopefully you are warmer than me right now. In any case, off I go!

Found this DIY tree decoration (above) by SuchPrettyThings and was inpsired by the color scheme! She has an explanation of how she made these bird ornaments over at her blog. Great tip if you're still trying to figure out how to decorate your tree.

ALSO Roberta at FatFinch sent me this link to a lovely article from the NYTimes about the recent death of WWII Pigeon trainer Richard Topus.

Snow & Folk Tales

Expecting 6 inches of snow today, which is a perfect opportunity to work on Christmas gifts (I am SO behind...I thought I had 2 more weeks!). Behind on blogging as well, but saw this beautiful series of Russian folk-tale inspired drawings from Raquel Aparicio and started daydreaming of them on my walls... (via)

How are your Holiday preparations going?

Barn Nesting

Less concept store and more lovingly curated museum of found items, Barn House is a barn not too far from Portland, that houses different vendors' vintage goods. The way they set everything up is amazing. Kinda like a Victorian woman's barn full of forgotten magical trinkets and wares. Their 2008 season is over, so check their space for next year's!

cabinet of curiosities

I wish I had an amazing cabinet like Bonnier de la Mosson's Cabinet at the Museum of Natural History in Paris!

Dola Makes S&P

I LOVE these hand painted owl porcelain salt & pepper shakers from one of my favorite shops, Dola Makes. Hurry, one left!

Sue Doesken

Sue's illustration for an upcoming book would make an awesome kitchen towel...

Bird Webcams

I'm all about Nature webcams (I'm a sucker for African watering hole cams), and there are a couple bird feeder cams for the lazy birder when it's too cold outside...

• Columbus, OH webcam
• UK Barn Owl Nest! webcam
• Scottish Seabird Center has several along their cliffs, feeders, etc webcam
• Estes Park, CO feeder webcam
• Weird German site of Antarctic Penguins webcam

I Digress

Hope the holidays were good for everyone! Mine was full of baked goods, explorations and movies. Snow has arrived here in Chicago and the temps have dropped. with Christmas coming up I'm trying to bust my butt with gifts and crafts. I started my Etsy shop (shameless plug alert!) and have added my wreaths which are for sale. Going to make more soon, and maybe some makeup bags. We'll see what time permits.

Jens' Birdsong

Tobias Faldt's awesome Jens Lekman photos.

Lena Wolff

Beautiful paper collages from Lena Wolff...

Tring Tales

The BBC has some great mini-interviews with the artists, researchers, and curators of the Natural History Museum's Ornithology department at Tring in the UK. There are so many interesting individual stories behind things one sees in museums all the time! Watch it here.

Weekend

kinda tired after an eventful couple of days. Friends, lots of hot chocolate, and visiting Madison (one of my favorite places) for a couple of concerts, including Deerhunter which was amazing.

Rachel Jones, stylist

Nevermore

Poe's birthday is coming up, and today is a fitting day for all things crow, blackbird, and raven!

Have a safe & fun weekend!

Edwyn Collins is for the birds

The ever-cool Edwyn Collins, who suffered a massive stroke a couple years ago, has been writing and performing music again. On top of getting back on the music, during rehabilitation he was making use of his left hand. Thus, he's been sketching birds of Britain! Utterly awesome. He's got an exhibition in London, so if you're around there be sure to go out and support the show! At Smithfield Gallery until November 15th.

Now, let's revisit the first reason he's cool...

Polly George Birds

Previously focusing on butterflies, Polly George now has her ceramic series with birds. The cakestand is just too perfect. (via ohjoy!)

Mockingbird Lager

I don't know how I feel about this on beer, but the design by itself is lovely! Feels like a mystery novel cover to me actually. The bottlecaps are great as well. Design by Samantha Wiley. (via dieline)

Lifegoods Birdhouse

product design from Switzerland

Nicholas Haggard

awesome photography by NYC-based Nicholas Haggard. No birds in his photos...but I still love them!

Andrea Canalito

from her Twinkle Twinkle Baby MFA thesis show earlier this year

Happy Friday!

love this sketchbook entry from Marieke Berghuis. Herons are truly awesome!

working on some wreaths for a show at store opening in a cpl weeks so I've been pretty busy all week (besides being sick). So happy I quit my job so that i can work on things like this, though I have to watch my spending til the next one! I did make room Wednesday though for night out of tapas, a screening of my favorite Truffaut film( Shoot the Piano Player) and a drink at one of my favorite bars.

Guardian Wildlife Photos of the Year

Bee -Eater in Namibia. love this guy! check out the rest of the amazing photos from the Guardian's contest. makes one want to buy a better camera.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

What a week (and still not over!)

plus I played with Kittens at an adoption...and quit my no-good job at last! More posts of "substance" once I catch my breath.

White Out Birds

LOVE this commercial by UK based company Build, for White Out pens using the pens as an art tool! Check out the full length video of the process. (via richardalanroberts)

SideNotes

stuffed felt banner made for a recent party we had

bad weather (it rained for 3 days straight over the weekend), allergies, and scary tanking economies have led me to stay inside and get some work done!

I'm a Cuckoo

I'm a huge fan of Cuckoo clocks and have always wanted some elaborate Black Forest intricacy to put on my wall but after seeing these I might want something a little sleeker! All available at the Italian design store MomentoItalia.