waysideviolet » beauty

recently on etsy

Jessica — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:15:22 +0000

You know how it is. You sit down with your coffee and you think “I’ll just look at Etsy for two minutes.” Half an hour later and you’re still clicking, hearting, and shopping.

Here’s what I found on my last trip down the handmade rabbit hole of lovely things.

1) Chalkboard Mug 2) Porcelain Bottle 3) Cori Badge
4) Camera iPhone Cover 5) Antique Ring

happy designs by shanna murray

Jessica — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:30:00 +0000

I’ve been a fan of Shanna Murray’s work for ages and of course I adore her new Spring collection. It’s a lovely mix of ribbons, wreaths of clover, and thoughts.

I’d be happy to scoop up the whole shop, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be this one. Be brave.

You can visit the shop here and read more about Shanna’s work on her blog.

weekly loves: art and jewels

Jessica — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:18:27 +0000

This week’s loves have a bit of an art and jewelry theme. Starting with a brilliant new photography book…

My copy of Nicole‘s super-lovely Paris in Color came today. I opened it immediately. Oh, it’s gorgeous! I can’t recommend it highly enough. Of course it will make you feel like skipping work and hoping on a plane to Paris, but the composition of the photos should also please anyone with an appreciation for design or simple, wonderful things in life.

These are two quick shots I took during my first flip through:

A new favorite Etsy shop mine filled with chevrons and color blocking, Foudre Blanche:

This adorable Nouvelle Vague print by Rosie Music:

Such pretty “ruined” Polaroid art by William Miller:

And last of all, I am quite tempted to order this pyrite ring by Palomarie:

weekly loves

Jessica — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:31:27 +0000

It still feels like winter (there was frost on the ground this morning!) so summer clothes aren’t quite the right thing just yet. But I’ve been going through my clothes and weeding out things that I haven’t worn in a year or two and making room for a few additions.

I know some people don’t like window shopping, but I find it as fun as actual shopping. If I could go on a ridiculous spending spree at Anthropologie today I would bring these things home:

1) Dress 2) Bike 3) Candle 4) Radio

I love the styling of this photo by Wood and Wool:

Believe it or not, this dress is made from masking tape! Isn’t it crazy! It’s the work of an Indiana fashion student and you can learn a little more about her dress over here.

A bright and cheerful Kantha coverlet via The Loaded Trunk

I’ve done a lot of reading this week:
-For fun I’ve been reading this book.

-I’ve been trying to keep my paws off Penguin Lost, which I bought for the plane ride to NYC next month.

-I’ve found the current issue of Foreign Policy and the conversations it’s generating so interesting.

-Danielle always has the best advice for Etsy sellers. This article on writing engaging item descriptions is a particularly good one.

saturday morning inspiration

Jessica — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:18:52 +0000

I was sitting at the dinning room table painting my nails when I remembered a video that I had seen popping up on Etsy lately. I had been meaning to watch it so I pulled it. It surprised me with its loveliness.

“With a needle and fiber, of course, anything can be done. This is what I believe.”

Handmade Portraits: Ayşegül & Sebahat from Etsy on Vimeo.

weekly loves: a bit of this and that

Jessica — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:25:29 +0000

I’ve mentioned Nan Larson before, but I still love her illustrations and wanted to post about them again. I decided that I like her work so much I just need to start collecting it already so these two lovelies are on their way to my ever-lovin’ walls!

Amelie & Joanie

I love her pop culture characters and next I think I need a trio of Doctor Who characters.

Simple can be nice:

Magnetic Ampersand and No. 6

To eat & drink:

Crostini and Whiskey Sour

Three things I’d be happy to welcome into my closet:

Jacket, Skirt & Dress

Speaking of fashion, how great are these ladies!

right now: my favorite designer

Jessica — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:50:08 +0000

My favorite fashion designer right now is Mary Katrantzou. Her designs have wonderful sculptural elements like layers of fabric that mimic graceful butterfly wings or the bold proportions of Russian nesting dolls. A lot of her work reminds me of sculpture. And then there’s her amazing use of pattern. I could go on and on.

It’s hard to choose, but here are some of my favorite looks from her last two shows:

Spring 2012

Fall 2011

*Photos via Style

PS. I love this gorgeous shoot of by Mary Katrantzou’s work by Erik Madigan Heck. You should check it out!

tulips indoors

Jessica — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 02:11:48 +0000

Saturday morning Joel ran out to the store for orange juice and came back with an armful of prettiest pink tulips.

Tulips must be addicting because on our next trip out of the house, ten pale orange ones found their way into my hands and home to a vase.

I love a bit of flower life in the house.

Have you brought any Spring blooms inside?

weekly loves

Jessica — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:39:36 +0000

So it basically feels like summertime around here. We open all the windows at work and try not to melt in the afternoons.

We take breaks for orange fanta in glass bottles. I’m not really a pop drinker, but I do love a little orange fanta on a hot day!

Lots of other bright and pretty things have been catching my eye this week. Like this pretty mix of patterns (via Jeska):

Pyrite necklaces from The Vamoose seem like a pretty, perfect summertime accessory:

Gorgeous hair and a beautiful post on Irish wedding traditions. (via Lara)

A beautifully detailed guitar via Free People flickr makes me wish I could play:

I love handstitching. I think there’s something so wonderful about each stitching being placed there by hand. So I had to share this video the moment I saw it:

A beautiful paper cup by Ann Wood via Jessica.

This wallet!

Two more things:
-Super cool “firefly jar” how-to.

-I’m having the hardest time choosing which color of these sandals to get. It’s between coral and teal. Today teal is winning. Any votes?

an unexpected absence

Jessica — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 02:09:29 +0000

I didn’t mean to disappear this week, but Joel and I came down with the flu within hours of each other on Monday and we’ve pretty much been in a hibernation/I don’t wanna be sick! mode ever since.

So, to beat the winter sickies, I’m looking at pretty things that remind me a little of springtime.

1) Cozy Clothes 2) Summer Ice Cubes 3) Roses 4) Tasty Chickpea Salad

I watched this movie on one of the endless sick day afternoon. I almost hesitate to recommend it because I wonder if it would have been so funny and enjoyable with out the medicines in my system. But I did love the scenery and the banter.

How do you get through sick days?