Monday, November 26, 2012

parcel mint: shop update!

Get your yule logs ready, it's holiday time! And in the spirit of winter and all its wonder I bring you 4 new goodies from my etsy shop Parcel Mint. First, the moon phases postcard set in all its cosmic and lunar glory. This is perfect for the non-traditional giftee on your list, or for those of us who appreciate holiday-neutral presents.  And speaking of non-traditional, how about a carrier pigeon to take the place of that boring holiday card you were about to send? These little birdies are the perfect addition to a gift or package and are guaranteed not to join the pile of cards and yearly updates in the recycling bin come January. Enjoy!







Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thankfulness

Some traditions are symbolic and meaningful to me, and others are... well... just not. If I stop and think about how many people eat the same animal on one day and how the manufacturers of that meat must scramble to produce enough to feed that many people I start to get really grossed out (sorry turkey eaters!). I do, however, support togetherness and thankfulness! This Thanksgiving I will not be eating turkey, but I will be concentrating on gratitude and harmony. My family is giant, so for as long as I can remember we have eaten these celebratory feasts off of paper plates piled buffet-style. We never eat all at the same time, and we cluster into little groups of eaters. Some at a table, some on the porch, some inside the kitchen, some in front of the tv. I love it and I don't love it. Wouldn't it be so magical and amazing to all eat around a festively decorated table (or a bunch of tables)? This one looks extra special to me, so eclectic and cozy. It's still random and hodge-podgey enough to fit a large and unique family and doesn't feel stuffy or overdone. Thanksgiving 2013 perhaps?

here

Monday, November 19, 2012

Bits & Pieces

Here are a few looks at the day to day these days... Mostly I make things or buy things and Joey makes his motorcycle look and act better. 

I picked up an extra hand at the Encinitas street fair this weekend with my dad. 

Some fun clay things are coming to the Etsy shop very soon, and this little guy came out of the extra clay. 

I helped Joey visualize how his bike will look being ridden with its new improvements.  

This is probably as close as I will ever get to actually riding on it.

He's very handy and very cute. 

Harness the galaxy in your mailbox or someone else's! These spacey postcards are going into the Etsy shop this week! 


Thursday, November 15, 2012

See. Wear. Treat.

All I want on this cloudy, cozy Thursday is to wander a new city (or a not so new city like my Spanish love Granada or the always dreamy San Francisco), dressed like an urban fall fairy in these wedges. And is there anything better than being slightly lost in a new place and then stumbling upon delicious coffee and treats? Doubt it. 
So if you are so lucky as to be new to your city, please enjoy it and know that I am so jealous. Maybe the rest of us should try to see our little old towns with fresh eyes? 

San Francisco. Granada

Rachel Comey Elva wedges here

Found here.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Journal Writing

For the past few years (more like five!) I have been keeping a journal. Sometimes I write frequently and other times my poor journal sits neglected for weeks at a time. But usually it takes me about a year to fill one with writing, drawings, pictures, paintings, pressed flowers, special things, scraps of paper. I love to look through them now, each with a very distinct character that reflects a specific time in my life. They are so precious to me in fact that when I moved out of my parents' house and left my finished journals behind I told both of them that if there was a fire and they had to scramble to save certain things that they should please grab those first. 


To me, journal time is calming and grounding. It means pens and tape and coffee. 


A favorite pinner of mine, Rowena Murillo, has an entire pin board dedicated to art journals that is easily one of my most loved corners of the internet. The colors and textures are so rich and it is impossible to leave without finding some inspiration. I found these journals there. Go have a look!


While I am very attached to my journaling habits, I do love the idea of an alternative journal. How beautiful is the night sky journal entry?! I love the idea of cataloging a daily observation about something like the sky, a tree, or the ocean. Perhaps without words, like the blue illustration. Or what about that stack of receipts? That would be a really unique way to remember something like a home renovation and could double as funky decor when the house is complete. The crafty folks at Design Sponge came up with the little basket of index cards and I love that it can be made using recycled materials and then kept on the kitchen counter to be written by an entire household or family as a collaboration. 



Sometimes all it takes to inspire a journaling frenzy are a few new supplies to spice things up. Watercolor paints and these washi tapes from TheSewingPost on Etsy are my go-to for holding little pictures, papers, and plants. And while it might not look like much, the Pilot G2 pen is hands down my favorite writing utensil. It's inky and smooth and is inexpensive enough for me to be ok with losing it all the time. And as for the journal itself, it might not be very original or exciting but I always use a Moleskine. They are well-made and convenient, and the simple black cover will never go out of style. 

Friday, November 9, 2012

Tiny Doors

Brace yourself because this might be the most adorable idea ever... 



Every house needs a teeny tiny door! The brilliant folks over at Design Sponge featured this little DIY and I can add it to my list of reasons why kiddies are awesome. This is the perfect time of year to fuel the imagination of any little in your life with a mini door for fairies, mice, elves and the like to come and go as they please. I love that it is so realistic and subtle. It's even sort of arty and stylish in its simplicity. And what a brilliant solution to the Santa problem for a chimney-less house! I know I would have LOVED this when I was small, and I am pretty sure I would still get just as much enjoyment out of it now. The possibilities for making this magical with rotating props and surprises are endless...tiny mail, a daily paper (The Gnome Chronicle? Elves Daily? Tooth Fairy Times?), muddy footprints, a welcome mat, seasonal decor, glitter trails... I'm in love. 

Emily Moldy Music

Kindergarten was a big year for me as far as making friends goes. That is when I met the majority of the girls that I would grow up with and still keep as soulsisters. There were a few important additions to the kindergarten bunch along the way and now I can truly say that I am one of the lucky ones when it comes to friends.
One of my tribe members is the beautiful and talented Emily Moldy. Her voice will tickle your ears and your heart and her music will move the corners of your mouth and your feet. And now the world is getting a taste of her magic in the latest Nature Valley Granola Thins commercial! Enjoy the full song below and be sure to keep an eye out for the commercial. The song is called "My Own One" and it is worth a listen (or 3 or 4)! 


Find Emily on Facebook, Youtube, and on her blog here
And lucky for you, this beautiful song is available for $1 to download here!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Want List




Why does this bag have to be so pretty and so expensive? I want to put my belongings inside of it and carry it around. Please and thank you. If you want to crush my dreams and buy this Rebecca Minkoff gem for yourself, you can find it here.

--thanks to Creature Comforts for the pretty arrows to illustrate the bag of my dreams!--

Bits & Pieces

A visual re-cap of the past week:

Upside down and out the window view. 

Pretty packaging is my favorite part of getting ready to ship Parcel Mint orders. 

I wish our house looked like this all the time.

I was a fortune teller on Halloween, me and Joey danced our butts off despite his hangover and me being sick, and my brother won the costume contest with his entire body painted as a zebra. Success! 

Joey and I sat in the grass and drew a picture for his niece and nephew.

We learned that I am controlling and he has to focus to draw.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Parcel Mint

Parcel Mint is two weeks old today! The first orders have been wrapped, packed, shipped, and received by happy customers and now I am busy working on some lovely new things for the shop. This batch of cards and journals is a little more mysterious and a lot more golden. Truth: I'm addicted to gold embossing. Here's a little peek...

Moon phases and feathers and triangles... parcelmint.etsy.com



Friday, November 2, 2012

Places She Remembers

The incredibly talented Danielle Webster (who just happens to be my cousin and one of my favorite people) took on a really fun and inspiring challenge last month. She decided to take a photo every day for 30 days, and she actually did it! Her photos are gorgeous and she has such an amazing eye for finding beauty and wonder in everything she sees. I have gathered a few of my favorites to feature here, but be sure to hop on over to her site and look around! Browse the archive to see the whole 30 Day Project and do not miss the black and white series taken in New Mexico or the lush greens of the Portland series. Enjoy!





Thursday, November 1, 2012

November First



Dear Marley,

Today is your tenth birthday! We should probably just call October and November your birth-season because we don't actually know your real birthday. November 1st is just the day that we picked for you to make things more simple. 

Your life is drastically different because we adopted you a decade ago! You and your brothers and sisters were found under a freeway overpass somewhere near Mexico, and you ended up at our local humane society. I was the first one to see you there, all cuddled up in a puppy pile, and I sent Austin and mom and dad to see you too. It took some convincing but we all agreed that we would adopt one of the puppies as a family. You were still too little to be adopted, so you lived there for a few more weeks. During that time we knew we would get one of the puppies but we didn't know which one. I visited you all the time and stuck my fingers through the bars of your cage so you guys could all chew on them. Finally the day came to pick a puppy and when it was our turn the rest of us were too overwhelmed to choose so Austin picked you for us. You were such a ball of cuteness, we just snuggled you and smelt your puppy breath for days. It is so hard to believe that was ten years ago! 

You are so strange and have such a unique personality. I think it's safe to say that you never would have survived in the wild, and especially not in the mean streets as a stray. You are fragile and easily become nervous. You have to eat special (expensive) dog food. You sleep a lot these days and you are really scared of babies and small children. Maybe you would have adapted to a less cushy lifestyle, and maybe you are the way you are because we made you that way (sorry). But even though your life with us lacks the adventure, the mystery, the danger of the life you would have had without us, I think you are one pretty lucky dog. And we are so lucky to be your family! 

Happy Arbitrary Birthday! 

love, 
Leanna 

Sometimes I do things like this to you and you don't like it but I do. 




You destroy most toys, but some you choose to keep as friends.

Even though you don't like new things very much you love adventures! Walks are your favorite. 


You are my shadow around the house. You like to sit right next to me, but you don't seem relaxed.