New England Banksy

I've spotted lots of murals around town recently and today I found this little robot while walking down Thayer Street. Is it possible that Rhode Island has its own Banksy running around?

A Wild Discovery

I kind of love that I finally stumbled upon these special edition Barnum's animal crackers today while on a run for groceries. The box is so colorful that it really stood out on the shelf and I couldn't resist buying a couple packages. I can't believe it took me a whole year to find them!

Fairey Tale

Oh, you know, just the usual Thayer Street smattering of stickers--one of my favorite pizza spots and the iconic Andre the Giant image.

Glass Globules

Today I noticed a new addition to the loft space where I go for pilates. This huge hanging sculpture was suspended in the corridor outside one of the art studios. It was massive and must have weighed a ton. It reminded me of a huge bunch of grapes or some weird coral reef formation! Wouldn't it be cool if you turned each orb into a fishbowl and had goldfish swimming around in them? That's what I would have done.

Sunrise Sunrise

looks like morning in your eyes

I snapped this picture bright and early as I was getting ready for the gym. The sun was just staring to come through the window behind me and it created an unusually clear silhouette. It reminded me of intricate silhouette portraits that we used to have done at Montessori school when I was young that would end up as Christmas or Valentine's gifts for parents. Get your own custom silhouette print here.

lyrics from Norah Jones-Sunrise

Ethereal

I find this photo to be so appealing. I think it's the juxtaposition of the weightless, flowy fabric and structured, industrial backdrop & accessories that works perfectly. As soon as I saw it, the word ethereal popped into my head. That used to be my favorite word because it sounds like what it represents and I like that. Is it weird that I had/have a favorite word? Anyway, I hope you enjoy the shot as much as I do.

Happy fashion week! I sure wish I was in NYC browsing Elizabeth & James' pop up shop and taking in Deborah Lippmann's appearance at Barney's.

Better Than Pushpins

This is pretty much the coolest thing ever. It's a world map that you can scratch off different countries as you visit them. I would love to own one of these to hang in my apartment! The bright colors are just waiting to be revealed underneath that layer of gold foil! What a fun project to keep over the course of lifelong travels.

Seen over at A Cup of Jo.

Maptotes

With more and more people going green by carrying reusable totes for groceries and other shopping excursions, it's hard to stand out in the crowd. That's why I love these canvas totes from Maptotes. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and you can choose from over 40 locales, from Nantucket to Tokyo and lots of places in between. I'm partial to Washington DC and all of the New England totes, especially Martha's Vineyard! Not in the market for canvas totes? No problem! They also have notepads, onesies, and wine carriers. Cute + good for the environment = two green thumbs up!

Which city would you represent?

Providence Art Festival

Rise and shine! It's Saturday morning and time for me to grab a coffee and head down to the Providence Art Festival. I've been looking forward to this for the past few weeks and the weather this morning is just perfect. I can't wait to stroll around and pick up some goodies. I've already stalked most of the vendors' Etsy shops so I have an idea of what I'm going to get! I love outdoor street fairs like this. They're such a fun way to enjoy a city and mingle with the locals.

What are you up to on this gorgeous morning?

Kiddie Crayon Apron

I cannot even get over the cuteness that is this apron! The 50's style apron has 24 slim pockets meant to hold crayons so they're right at your child's fingertips for whenever a creative moment comes along. I only wish it came in my size!

P.S. You can even get it personalized!

Mom's the Word

As far back as I can remember, I have been in love with sparkles. I'm talking rhinestones, sequins, shimmery thread, anything. Trips to M.J. Designs were just opportunities for me to covet every little plastic rhinestone in the jewel aisle. I used to hoard the gems from my Treasure Troll board game. It was beyond an obsession. I have a very vivid memory of being in Montessori school making a puzzle pin for my mom for Mother's Day. I took projects like this very seriously. I remember picking a seat at a table by myself, so I didn't have to share supplies with anyone else. I painted my cluster of puzzle pieces silver and carefully selected some pretty beads and buttons to glue on to it. My pin was obviously the greatest, but it was still lacking a certain shimmer. Then, as if by a sheer miracle, a single rhinestone fell out of the sky (literally) and landed in my workspace. It's as if Liberace heard my wish and made it rain a single sparkle! My pin was complete. To this day, I still have no idea where it came from. It could have come flying off someone's shoes or clothes I guess, but I prefer to think of it as a gift from above. My mom was the only one whose puzzle pin had a single, sparkling gem on it.

In honor of my very special pin, I thought I'd feature these gorgeous rings today. Triian rings are completely one-of-a-kind little sculptures made from reclaimed materials and splashed with bright colors and Swarovski crystals. They are made entirely by hand, so no two rings are exactly the same. Read more about the designers and browse the full collection here.

A very Happy Mother's Day to all moms, especially my own. Love you, Mom!

P.S. My mom still has the pin!

Lilly Pulitzer Goes Wild

To this day, Barnum's animal crackers are still one of my favorite snacks. Half the fun is eating them out of the red circus-train boxes! Well, the familiar red cars have been replaced (in limited edition fashion) by Lilly Pulitzer's pastel palette. The collaboration between Lilly and Barnum benefits the World Wildlife Fund and their commitment to protecting tigers in Sumatra. One million of these boxes are going on sale throughout the U.S. and will be available only while supplies last. I can't wait to look for them this weekend at Target! This is a great project that promotes the environment, fashion, and yummy childhood snacks!

What do you think of the Lilly Pulitzer-designed snack boxes?

Obey

Love this summery scarf by Obey. It would look great over a basic tee or tank top and jeans. The best part is Shepard Fairey's iconic Andre the Giant stamp in the middle. If the style looks somewhat familiar, it's because he's the artist responsible for the Obama hope poster. I love spotting his stickers all over Providence. I wish I could make it to the new gallery exhibit in New York!

Peep Art

This year marked the fourth annual Washington Post Peeps diorama contest and there were over 1,000 amazing entries! The winner paid homage to the hit movie Up with a bunch of balloons made of Peeps. Other favorites (of mine) included a Peeps spin on Mario Brothers, Where the Wild Things Are, and Goodnight Moon. You really have to go to the gallery (here) and check out the finalists. The attention to detail is amazing! I want to make a Peeps diorama next year to enter in the contest!

Which one is your fave?

Rainy Day Project

I just came across a fun DIY project for making these adorable paper owls! You could make bunnies or chicks instead, but the owls are my favorite. Check it out here.

Sous L'Eau

I love these whimsical underwater photos by Russian photographer Elena Kalis. Imagine specializing in taking pictures underwater! Aren't the Alice in Wonderland ones pretty? The girls look like they're having so much fun! Check out the whole collection here.

Gaga Dolls

I spotted this link at Happiness Is... and instantly became enamored with the 50+ variations of Gaga dolls. Veik (the artist) basically makes replicas of Lady Gaga's wild costumes and puts them on Barbie dolls. I must say, he is extremely creative and crafty. He really includes all of the little details, even down to dyed wigs, decorated sunglasses, and props. I encourage you to check out his Flickr set of photos. He isn't planning on selling the collection anytime soon, but he does offer some DIY tips so you can attempt to make a Gaga of your very own.Some of them look like they took a long time and a lot of planning. Check out the Hello Kitty gown below. Wow!

Which Gaga is your favorite? I can't decide!

Animate Me!

I would love to have a set of personalized stationery with my miniature cartoon portrait printed on top! How cute are these note cards?! You can get your own customized set at Rifle Paper Co. You can even get custom wedding announcements or calling cards. It makes me wonder what I'd look like as a cartoon. Hmmm...I hope I win the set from the giveaway at A Cup of Jo. That sure would be a nice way to start the weekend!

What would cartoon you look like?

Eureka!

I've finally found my absolute dream job! I would love to work at Muckykids Art Studio in Cambridge. It involves three of my favorite things: kids, glitter, and messes--yay! I even love the name, it just sounds like a fun place. Muckykids is an art studio that offers classes for kids (ages 1 to 8) that inspire creativity and sensory exploration. Depending on the child's age, they offer anything from printmaking to papier-mâché. It sounds like a place I'd enjoy crafting at myself! They even host birthday parties so parents don't have to worry about their living rooms getting destroyed by toddlers. This really is my kinda place! Wonder if they need any help...

What's your dream job?

Bouncing Here and There and Everywhere

I love fun and unique home accents and this product is no exception. It's a chandelier made from over five thousand hand-strung gummi bears! There are only ten being made so they are very limited edition, which makes me want one even more. It's probably important to mention that the gummi bears are made of acrylic (not sugar) in order to withstand hungry kiddos and the heat of a 75 watt light bulb. Of course, the price is available only upon request, which is never a good thing. Wouldn't it be fun hanging in a breakfast nook or a playroom? This is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time--so creative!

Happy Friday!
taylor