Tabletop Water Tower

Etsy shop 2of2 features all kinds of impressive, small-scale architecture, but this miniature water tower is the piece that really caught my eye. Made from birch, aluminum and steel rivets, it would bring a charming little touch of NYC to a mantel or bookshelf.

Cream and Sugar, Please

If I were going to have a collection of a particular kitchen item, it would most definitely be cream and sugar sets. I can always seem to find new creamers and sugar bowls that I love, and these delicate designs from RossLab are no exception.

Roped In

I spy cute and quirky rope necklaces. It must be the nautical factor, but these look so summery to me. Better hurry up and wear 'em!

[found here: aqua; cream; navy; neon; olive green; cream twist]

Nature's Candy

Would you believe that these seashells, oysters, sea glass and starfish are all candy? Yep, all kinds of chocolate-filled, vanilla-infused and hard candy goodness. The collection created by Andie's Specialty Sweets would be so perfect in a favor bag or covering a cake for a summer party or beach wedding. They fall into that "too pretty to eat" category, so thank goodness I don't believe in such things.

[photos courtesy of: Andie's Specialty Sweets]

Miriam Designs Necklace Giveaway

Update: Sara of Project Soiree is the winner!

I have a giveaway for you today, but first I want to tell you a little bit about Miriam Designs, the company behind it. The jewelry is made by women in Nashville who have overcome addiction, prostitution and life on the street. Their tagline is handmade and hope-filled goods -- I love that. They create some beautiful pieces, but this sweet little branch necklace called "twiggy" happened to be my favorite. And now you have a chance to win it!

Just leave a comment below before noon on Friday, July 19. For additional entries, like Miriam Designs on Facebook and/or add this to one of your Pinterest boards. One winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!

Branch Out

I'm starting to burst at the seams when it comes to closet space. (There's just not enough room for all those cardigans.) These hanging branches by Carriage Oak Cottage would give me a little extra storage. Of course, only the cutest dresses are allowed.

I Bought It, I Like It: Polka Dot Tote

I could live out the rest of my days in just stripes and polka dots and be happy, which is why this tote bag from Portland-based designer Anna Joyce immediately appealed to me. I love the leather handles and the way those charcoal-colored dots are scattered across the canvas. It's handmade, high quality and just the right size. You can find it here or on my shoulder for the rest of the summer.

This series highlights items I've purchased with my own money that I think you would like too.

Butcher Boards

These butcher diagram cutting boards are so clever. Wouldn't one make a great gift for Father's Day? So all the dads out there can learn a little something about butchery while they're carving meat or chopping parsley.

[photos courtesy of: woodink]

New York Subway Easter Eggs

New York City is full of inspiration, even on a crowded subway, so here's my Easter egg tribute to the city's transit system. The trains are labeled by different numbers, letters and colors, so with some food coloring and stickers, I created egg versions of the 22 subway lines. I used this food coloring kit and these 1-inch number and letter stickers (you'll need black letters for the yellow line). It's a fun spin on basic egg dyeing and my way of saying, "I love you, New York ... yes, even you, sad, little, unreliable G train."

A couple of tips if you want to make your own subway Easter eggs:

• I really loved using the food coloring kit since it has all the colors you need, even grey and brown.
• You can dye the eggs with the stickers already on them and remove once the eggs are dry. The colors may seep through a little in some cases, but this method was pretty successful for me.
• For a more foolproof method, just attach the stickers after the eggs have been dyed and are dry.
• Instead of Easter grass, I used a shredded subway map.
• And wouldn't these be fun for an Easter egg hunt? "Find the 6 train!"

In Stitches

There is something so sweetly homegrown and old-fashioned about embroidery. These pieces have that same charm but with a modern spin. I love the use of fabric swatches and bold colors and the oh so very hipster vibe each one captures. Plus, the name of the shop is Cheese Before Bedtime, which could also be the name of my autobiography.

Gingerbread Village

I want to buy real estate in this gingerbread village. Created at the MUJI flagship store in Tokyo, it features 100 gingerbread houses, a commuter train and even tiny, non-edible townspeople. There's a 24-hour live feed of the village, so you can get a feel for the exciting day-to-day life in a gingerbread town.

Also, remember this adorable gingerbread townhouse?

Christmas Crafting: Cinnamon Ornaments

I remember making cinnamon ornaments like these in preschool. Actually, Ms. Johnson probably made them for us and we scribbled on them with markers and took all the credit. I had that ornament for years and years and the smell never faded. It was puzzling how something that smelled so much like food and looked so much like food wasn't edible, but I was a naturally obedient child and never tried to take a bite. Since part of the fun of this time of year is getting all wrapped up in nostalgia, I decided to revisit cinnamon ornaments. They make a sweet, little homemade gift to pass around or attach to presents under the tree.

Cinnamon Ornaments
Adapted from Martha Stewart

1 cup ground cinnamon
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 Elmers glue

In a medium bowl, mix together 1 cup ground cinnamon and 1/4 cup applesauce using a rubber spatula. Stir in 1/2 cup craft glue. Stir the dough until consistency is smooth and dry. Let stand 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Turn dough onto a cool, flat surface. Flatten with your hands, then flatten with a rolling pin to 1/4 inch thick. If dough becomes too dry, spritz with water. If it sticks to rolling pin or work surface, sprinkle with additional cinnamon. Use the cookie cutter of your choice, then use a straw to poke a hole in each ornament for string or ribbon to go through. Transfer ornaments to a baking sheet. Bake for approximately 2 hours, flipping ornaments over once halfway through. Makes about 20 ornaments.

Making Vanilla Extract

I'd been wanting to make my own vanilla extract since this time last year, so in November, I got busy and now I'll have a boxful of homemade Christmas gifts. For me, the key to making vanilla extract is buying in bulk. I purchased these bottles, these vanilla beans and a case of affordable vodka. I used Zoe Bakes' very helpful post as a guide.

Basically, all you do is add vanilla beans to vodka and store in a place away from sunlight. It seems like the longer you keep the vanilla beans in the vodka, the more flavorful your extract will be. I kept mine in for about six weeks. It's so gratifying to see the clear vodka turn such a warm, gorgeous shade of brown. I shook the bottles around every few days and would open one up to get a whiff of that amazing vanilla scent. I'm in the process now of dividing up the vanilla extract into 8 oz. bottles and slapping on the labels I created on Pinhole Press, just in time to get them under the tree!