Walking around Montmartre reminds me of walking around the back canals of Venice; you never know what you’re going to come across but you know, whatever it is, it’s going to be beautiful.
In stark contrast to the nearby run down, dirty buildings of the Red Light District surrounding the Moulin Rouge, Montmartre is filled with beautiful old homes with colorful facades (check one out here), cobblestone streets and amazing cafes such as this one, Chez Marie.
I’ll just quote directly from my description of the photograph on my site, “Monmartre is known for it’s rich history of artists, writers and philosophers. I can just picture them, sitting at this adorable cafe, discussing the world’s issues, writing the next great novel or sketching passersby.”
If you find yourself in Paris, you can’t pass up the opportunity to take the Metro out to Montmartre. Not only will you get a beautiful view of the city from high atop the hill but you’ll be amazed at the beauty right there in front of you.
As a kid, growing up in Philadelphia, spring and summer meant Phillies baseball. Admittedly, I’m not a huge baseball fan but my father was. Not a weekend went by when you didn’t hear Harry Kalas voice broadcasting the play-by-play of the game on the radio, my dad listening while he worked on one of his many woodworking projects out in the garage. (If only Etsy had been around back then!)
One year my parents took my brother and I to a game and boy what a fun day that was. Sitting in the stands, listening to the cheers, watching the players I had seen on TV hitting balls and running bases, the Philly Phanatic scaring the daylights out of me and delighting my brother. (Have I mentioned I have a tremendous fear of mascots??)
After the game, decked out in our Phillies hats and shirts, we all went out to dinner and I remember feeling like there could never be a better day than that one. I was in third grade… everything was perfect and it could never get any better than that. We have so many wonderful pictures from that day but two in particular that I love; one of me and my dad (see below) and the other of my brother and my mom.
Just before my father passed away, I came across the pictures as I was sorting through some old family albums. Even at 32, seeing those pictures, I recalled every minute of that day as if it had just happened. Right away, I knew I needed to do something special with them and decided to create handmade picture ornaments for my parent’s tree.
Christmas that year was bittersweet. It was time with the family, so it was wonderful, but at the same time, we knew that it could be my father’s last Christmas (and it was). My mom had decorated to the hilt like always. My dad and I made Christmas cookies together that year, something we had never done before. We had a wonderful family dinner and, despite the “cancer monster” looming in the background, it was a Christmas I will never forget.
When I gave my parents the ornaments, one with “Dad and me” and the other with “Mom and me” painted on them, my father choked up. As a kid I used to make presents for my parents all the time; misshapen bowls, cracked “sculptures” of unrecognizable animals, you name it, but I had certainly never brought tears to my dad’s eyes. He recalled the day: the game, the dinner, everything. It was like the four of us were transported back to that perfect day when nothing could go wrong.
My dad has been gone for a little over five years now but those ornaments go up on the tree every year. Now, every time I look at them, I recall not only how much fun we had at the game but also the look on my dad’s face when he held my simple, handmade gift and for a short time got to forget the cancer and remember a time that was nothing short of perfect.
Check out the wonderful video that Etsy posted on their site today and please feel free to pass it along. When making your holiday list this year, please consider handmade. Even when it’s handmade by someone else, their love and their own stories go in to every single piece. When you buy handmade, you buy love. Please feel free to share your own handmade story as well!
Mom's Nest (set of 2 stones in a nest) by sjengraving at Etsy
…literally!
Today’s treasury is a gift guide for the ornithologically minded. Is that a word?? OK how about, it’s a gift guide for those who love birds?
How cute is the messenger bag by craftierobot? And I love those linen napkins by handmadebysima… such a great addition to a brunch table don’t you think?
Check out each of the shops in the treasury… they have a lot of great finds, bird related or otherwise!
Enjoy!
Antique Cash Register Keys Cuff Links by qacreate at Etsy
It’s just about that time again! The holiday season is fast approaching as are the beautiful shades of silver and gray of winter. In honor of my favorite time of year, my latest treasury is a gift guide under $50 featuring some fantastic work by my fellow Etsians.
It’s so hard to pick just a few favorites so I’m just going to say check them all out and you won’t be disappointed!
New to my gallery is, “Central Camera” a photograph of an amazing, vintage neon sign from a camera shop by the same name here in Chicago. Central Camera, established in 1899, is an institution here in Chicago. Find yourself on State Street? Take a walk off the beaten path and head over to Wabash for some amazing photographic finds (and some great photo ops of the ‘L’ train as well!)
Printed on metallic paper which brings out the cross-processing effect I applied to the photo, this adds a wonderful vintage-feel, emerald pop to any decor. Now available here in my online gallery.
Today, instead of posting on of my treasuries, I’m going to post one that I absolutely love and feel very honored to be included in… “Rustic Adorned With Urban Charm” created by glistenbyerin at Etsy. I’m so very touched to have one of my newest, “Pathway- the Bookmark” included!
I can’t say enough about this treasury… I love the way the subtle, rustic colors come together with little pops of teal and sage here and there. Absolutely gorgeous! I see many current favorites included such as khphillips and adorababe (you’ve seen them in my treasuries many a time…)as well as some new like oakmoss and paperdollaccessories. OK, really, I could list everyone.
Check out each of the shops because there are so many great finds!
Retro Typewriter- Limited Edition Print by CB78 at Etsy
My latest treasury at Etsy, “Do Peacocks Eat Tomatoes?” showcases one of my favorite color combinations (and I do mean one because I think I’m up to about 125,986 different “favorite color combinations) peacock teal and tomato red/orange.
Ever since I posted this picture on my site, I’ve had people asking me how I got the duck to hold the photograph in his mouth. My answer? Magic. OK well only if you consider Photoshop magic… which I do. Using a good mix of some PS hocus pocus and some imagination I got the dog, I mean duck to “eat my homework.”
This tutorial will provide you with the step by step details as to how you too can get a farm animal to “eat” something it shouldn’t. (a note, no animals were harmed in the making of this tutorial)
While you may not have a need for a duck to eat a Polaroid, the basic principles of the tutorial will teach you how to use simple masking to create something similar. (Please note, this tutorial is assuming a basic understanding of Photoshop) There may be many other ways to get this duck to hold the Polaroid in his mouth but, for me, this was the best and easiest way for me to approach it. This fun and easy tutorial starts after the jump…
So today, instead of spotlighting a treasury I created, I thought I would include one that someone else included one of my prints in.
I love this treasury by BlondeChick at Etsy; it really evokes that warm, cozy feeling you get on a rainy, cool day when all you want to do is snuggle up on the couch under an afghan, sitting in front of a fire.
I’m so pleased to have “The Hold Outs,” one of my newest prints, included in this lovely collection. Please check out the rest of the shops included as they have some wonderful finds!
