Holy Cookbook Ikea.

Ikea's new cookbook, Homemade is Best,  is bananas. Seriously. Combining recipes with photos of the ingredients isn't a new concept, but Carl Kleiner went above and beyond with his take on the idea. Each recipe involves two photos, the ingredients and the finished product.

Ikea is apparently giving out free copies in their kitchen sections....at least according to the rumors. I believe another trip to my favorite store may be in order before they run out!

There's something about the way he lays out each item that makes me want to bake until I run out of eggs. Each line up of ingredients is basically it's own work of art. I can't wait to get my own copy so I can stare at all the photos....I mean bake something!

You can find more information here.  And here.  
Black Forest Cake:

Almond Shells:

A Thought for a Tuesday.....

The Femme Fatales

Have you seen the new editions of these Penguin classics? Oh my. Fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo chose three works of literature with feisty females in the starring role and then recreated their "look" in such a way that makes me want to buy them again. But I suppose that's just the collector in me. Miss Catherine's lonely stance on the moors is most definitely my favorite. 

If you're a book lover like me, you may also be interested in reading about the 75th anniversary of Penguin Books. The story behind this company, which began in 1935 with ten books, is quite interesting. You can read more about "The Original Ten" and take a peek inside the book that illustrates some of Penguin's best covers and their illustrators. Very interesting. I have a few old Penguin books in my collection, as well as plenty of newer versions, but none with covers such as these.

And if you're really interested, check out all of the fun things Art Meets Matter has when it comes to Penguin books, including their famous coffee mugs! 

Fashion Friday: Inspiration (a little late, but nevertheless)

I LOVE putting together outfits. Love, love, love. It's like painting on a canvas only instead of paint colors and brush sizes there are sweaters, dresses and shoes in all different colors! I know. I'm silly. But when I get tired of the options my closet offers me in the morning I spend a few minutes online browsing my favorite shops for inspiration. Usually after I put something together online I'm more inclined to find something "new" in my closet the next time I get dressed. Or at least I have a good idea in mind of colors and items to be on the lookout for next time I'm thrifting.

Fall is my absolute most favorite time of year and I can't wait to start putting together outfits that include boots, scarves and sweaters. Can't. Wait.

So here is my bit of inspiration for a September evening date with your man. Perfect for a chillier evening with just enough vintage throwback to make this girl happy!

September Dinner Date by reneeallison featuring a a line dress

New in the shop!

My first Etsy update is ready and I'm so excited to share with you some of the things I've been working on. By next week (*hopefully*) my Etsy shop will be full of all the fun little items that I've spent so many hours creating the past few months. Long, long overdue but better late than never, right?!

For this first update I have a small collection of notecard designs (all blank) in many colors and designs for either friendly notes or gracious thank yous. In this time of quick emails and Facebook messages, it's not often a handwritten note is sent, which is truly such a shame. I'm excited to share these fun cards and hope they will inspire a handwritten note or two! 

Thanks for looking!! 

Something for the walls.....

When I saw these posters at A Vintage Poster, I immediately fell in love. With all of them. 

The top two are definitely my favorite (a vintage camera? the Beatles? seriously?!) My living room is in desperate need of something to fill a large empty wall space....at least that is what I will be telling the husband when these come in the mail. And though I love the colors shown....and will probably stick with them....the option to change the background is always a plus! A Vintage Poster also offers all of these in mini sizes (instead of the standard 11x14). Very cool. 

I adore the bottom two as well, but I suppose until I have a place for them they will have to wait....

*As if the posters aren't already the perfect blend of typography and design.....check out the mailing label made for each package. Pretty much it's own bit of framable art right there. Whoa. 

a thought for a Tuesday.....

...every moment before this one depends on this one. 
Jonathan Safran Foer

"It's like a concert tour, but with sketchbooks...."

That's the saying at Art House Co-op anyway! I'm really excited to be a part of the 2011 Sketchbook Project tour. So excited in fact that I've checked my mailbox every day this week to see if my sketchbook has arrived (I honestly don't always remember to get the mail so that's a pretty big deal). I'm also a little anxious to start because my entry needs to be mailed by January....

If you're not familiar with Art House Co-op or their projects, check out their website.

The coolest thing about this is that anyone, from anywhere in the world can join! Which means the sketchbooks will encompass many different thoughts, ideas and types of art. Art House is working on digitizing the ones from last year so they are viewable online, but at any rate after each tour all of the books are submitted to the Brooklyn Art Library's permanent collection. Where anyone can view them. So cool.

The tour starts March 2011 and eventually hits Chicago in May and D.C. in April. I really hope I'll get to see them all in person.... hmm. I think a weekend road trip may be in order!

I'm not sure yet if I'm going to share the finished project, but I will say that the topic I chose is "the greatest story ever told". I've got a few ideas as to what I want to do....something encompassing photographs and drawings. I really really really can't wait to get started. Really:)

a thought for a Tuesday.....

...watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.
Road Dahl

Fielden: A Studio Portrait Session

This past July I welcomed Nicole and her little man, Fielden, over for a fun photo session. He was such a cutie, completely stole my heart as he looked into my lens with those big blue eyes! I can't wait to meet up with them again for another session soon...thanks again Nicole!

Something sweet for your weekend....grab a tissue.

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

Unbelievably sweet story that had me in tears by the end. These are the loves stories that make my heart flutter. 

Visit the StoryCorps site to learn how you can record your own life story or that of a loved one. They archive the recorded interviews at the American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress. How cool is that? Take a moment to browse through the other stories recorded on their website, some of them are truly amazing. 

Happy Weekend!