Xenia Thaler is the magnificent Toronto tile design studio. They make tiles to hang on the wall and tiles to install. All the tiles are decorated by hand and all the glazes mixed from scratch. I like the idea of installing the tiles in a kids bathroom or using some of their more sophisticated designs for a kitchen back splash.

Sara sent my this link yesterday to YumiYumi and her giclee owl prints. Strangely enough when I got home last night I heard our neighborhood owl “hoo hooo” to me. I think he was telling me he likes these prints too.

I keep passing by all these luscious blooming cherry trees in my neighborhood and plotting to come back in the dark of night and cut some branches from my neighbors trees. Rather than get caught up in a tree with a pair of gardening shears, I could just buy some longer lasting decorative branches and flowers from Nettleton Hollow. They have a great selection of branches, grasses and flowers, which arrive fresh at your door and can be dried to last indefinitely. I was happy to see they have the fuzzy and pink Protea, my new favorite flower. I also dig these crazy octopus-like rams head pods, they would make a really unusual centerpiece. Check out the site for more images to inspire your floral creativity!

I peeped Laura Laine’s gorgeous fashion illustrations in the NYT Style Magazine “t” this weekend. Laura is an illustrator from Helsinki, Finland. Her line drawings of women with their exuberant hair and trendy fashions are so whimsical and alive. Enjoy!

(Rebecca Overmann Jewelry)

I was wowed by the jewels at the Oscar’s this year. I loved Jennifer Garner and Keri Russell’s necklaces and Heidi Klum’s stunning earrings. Nicole Kidman’s dress was boring for her, but the layered diamond necklace was incredible.

In honor of these jewels I am sharing two talented local Bay Area jewelry designers, whose pieces are relatively affordable for us real people. Rebecca Overmann and Genevieve Yang’s pieces are glamorous, fluid and sculptural. Both women use a combination of diamonds, gold and sterling silver to mold their modern pieces. Rebecca Overmann, uses traditional metalsmith techniques, often oxidizing the silver of her hand-forged pieces to give them a sculptural elegance. Genevieve Yang is a master goldsmith who uses an ancient Korea gilding technique called Keum-boo to join 24k gold with sterling silver to make her timeless pieces. Thanks to Mom and Sara for sharing these gems with me.

(Genevieve Yang Jewelry)

Well you know…

I love the simplicity of this hand cut illustration from A Little Hut. This is just one of the many limited edition designs by graphic designer Patricia Zapata. Check out her other paper cut designs, block print cards and her one-of-a-kind balsa wood art pieces.

For my pretend Oscar gown I think I might need one of these beauties from Bellissima. Denver jewelry designer Sarah Bridger creates one of kind jewelry with an assortment of baubles and stones. They have a very romantic and bohemian feel. My fashion forward co-worker was just mocking me for my eclectic taste in clothing, but we were both able to agree that these jewels could be worn anywhere by anyone, especially by someone like me, who never matches her shoes with her purse.

The Oscars are this weekend! I am so excited as usual. I’ve seen all the movies and have my Tivo cued up so I won’t miss a thing! I will be watching from my couch critiquing the fashions and wishing I had somewhere to be so glamorous. It doesn’t help that I am coveting these dresses from Spanish label Hoss Intropia. The bohemian vibe, the embroidery and the eclectic prints all speak to me. Net-a-Porter carries the label in the US and has some items for sale from the Fall 2008 collection. Keep checking though, they should have these items from the Spring 2008 collection soon.

I am loving this scarf and handbag from the Scottish gift shop Papa Stour. All of the goodies selected by designer Rosie Brown are handmade by Scottish artists and sold in limited quantities. This is one of my favorite spots to visit for inspiration. It’s more than a gift shop, it’s really an art gallery showcasing a diverse collection of contemporary art and craftsmanship from Scotland, and it’s a great place to shop for a unique wedding present.

Cancel that rhinoplasty appointment ladies and gents and instead entertain yourself with these sweet pick your nose cups! Modern Poverty is my favorite lifestyle site of late. They have lots of funky items like these paper nose cups and this diamond ring mug. Have fun perusing!

Cicada Studio is the Etsy shop by designer Michelle Engel Bencsko and her perfect for Spring linen pillows and sachets. I love linen and Michelle has come up with simple retro designs to compliment the crisp texture of the 100% Belgian linen. Her little sachets are filled with soothing lavender and chamomile, which I would hide under my pillow at night to help me relax. Check out her personalized Zodiac pillows too.

Some loveliness from Etsy seller Marie Fly Fly.

Assuming you live somewhere snowy, I would imagine you might be suffering from the Winter blahs. Growing up in Buffalo, NY and going to college in NH I can totally relate. Molly, one of my readers, sent me these snowflake photographs which might help you appreciate the beauty of all that slushy brown nuisance. Molly is living in Jericho, VT, where the photographer Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley first discovered and captured the beauty of individual snowflakes under a microscope in 1885. His images are sold in black and white from his original negatives. I realize it’s a bit early to be thinking about Christmas but his pewter snowflake ornaments would make a great gift or you might collect the years that your children were born like Molly did.

Post Secret is a kickass community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. Check it out.

The young design studio dVider out of Brooklyn just notified me of their latest addition, these vinyl wall stickers by guest artist Jill Malek. Dvider also makes modern and clean room dividers out of cotton sail fabric in a range of sizes which you can configure to fit the room. This is a great idea for a kids room, especially if your tykes are sharing, then again they just cry out for crayon smudges and paint splatter. Their vinyl sticker collection can be used to add some pizzazz to the dividers or to decorate your walls anyway you can imagine.

The hubs and I have mutually agreed to not make a big deal for Valentine’s Day this year. Instead we are going to our favorite pizza place for an early dinner then home to watch The Wire, our latest HBO addiction. Besides who says you should save the romantic gestures for February 14th every year. Therefore I might surprise him some random day with this Love Origami fortune teller. The hubs can speak French un peu so he could translate the romantic French phrases under each fold to me. Available in packs of 30 as wedding favors from Cox & Cox out of the UK.

Haley’s BFF Alison sent me this link to Etsy shop Benny & Heidi. Karen, the talent behind Benny & Heidi, sewed these patchwork pillows using a variety of patterned and colorful fabric. Her trademark is the crochet backing over the fabric. I think all three of us liked the Nancy Drew pillow best, though Haley pointed out she might want to make a pillow with the 21st century version, Veronica Mars. Haley is biased though since she has been known to hole up in her room all weekend watching Veronica Mars marathons.

I’m a member of a Music Club started by my friend Mad Mike B (check out his hilarious comedy project TurkeyNeck.net). There are 15 of us in the club and each month one person sends out a mix CD to everyone else on the list. It’s such a great way to discover new music and expand your tastes. I love the clever names people come up with for their mixes and how they decorate their CD labels and cases. When I’m up next I’ll get a little help with my packaging from this unique CD Packaging Kit designed by artist Cataline Estrada for Chronicle Books. Kits are $15.95.

As requested here are the songs from my last two mixes:

The always-witty folks over at BlueQ came up with these clever coin purses to help you save a buck or two. I have been skipping my $3.25 V-soy latte and the boys at Tully’s lately. It’s hard to justify the expense when Al, the best dayporter ever, makes coffee for us girls in the office for free everyday. If I start saving my dough though, there might be some high-octane, handcrafted beans coursing through my system once again.  (P.S. These coin purses will be available after 2/15 over here: BlueQ)