Handmade For The Holidays...

  This year I have decided that I want to give as many handmade gifts as possible, as well as decorate our home with handmade goods.  There are so many incredibly talented artists out there....seriously so many!  Last year I made a bunch of ornaments for our tree, and even ordered a couple from other shops that I just could not resisit.  With this econony I believe it is so important to support our local designers.  Here are a few of my favorites....and I challenge you to find some foavorites of your own to make this holiday season a handmade holiday.  You won't regret it..I promise.

                                                                    Pickes

the black apple

strawberry kitten

moontsy and floontsy

knock knocking

miso

NYrika

stay home

What I Have Been Up To...

  I have been a very buisy little bee.   In between my full time job, and my three year old daughter I have been sewing away as fast as I can to get some goodies ready for this Fall and Winter season.  It is my buisiest time of year.....and I LOVE IT!  I have all of these items available at my shop Miso.

When a Want becomes a NEED?...

  Sooo.  I am totally the kind of person that obsesses about something until I get it.  It is really some kind of sickiness.  I'm not sure how it happened, but what is a girl to do?  This being said ... I neeeed these shoes.  Where would I wear them?  To chase Paige around the park and get nasty glares from the other mommies in their practical, and probably so much more comfy tennie runners...um YES PLEASE!

  

Jak & Jil Blog

Heart of the Home...

  I'm pretty much sure that most of you will agree that the kitchen is the heart to every home.  Even more so during these coming months of Fall and Winter.  I know that some of my fondest memories have been in my parents kitchens.  My dad always had huge pots of soups and stews for us ready at any time after coming in from a busy day of school or snowman building.  Now it is my turn to create those memories with my daughter.  I think the best rule of thumb when designing or decorating your kitchen is to keep it simple and functionable.  My favorite way to decorate is with items that can be "used".  I always keep my big white bowl full of seasonal fruits and veggies.  What are your "must haves" in your kitchen?

    

                                                                                                          

1.) Kristen Buckingham 2.) Anthropologie 3.) decor8 4.) Grahm Moss 5.) Claudia G Pearson 6.) Anthropologie 7.) sfgirlbybay 8.) Lonny Magazine 9.) my personal picture

GIVEAWAY...

  This is a pretty exciting, and really fun giveaway contest!  There are two fabulous prizes being given away at SimplyGrove.com.  All details are given at her website.  I own this print being given away, and it is one of my favorites... Also the necklace is a one of a kind piece designed by local artist Elise Vaughn, store owner of Brass Razoo in downtown Nampa.  Good Luck to all!

Man Cave...

  For the past few months I have really been trying my hardest to come up with a color theme and design plan for Dominics home office.  With having a very energetic three year old, we decided to turn our mother-in-law house into his office.  I'm actually pretty excited about it, because it is totally separtate from the house. This means it can have a style of its own.  I really wanted something that fell within his color palette tastes, and was really calming and sophisticated.  It has to be a place where he feels like he can get some good work done, and also be able to bring colleagues in to....and I think I found what I was looking for!

I found this idea while browsing through the new Pottery Barn Fall Season catalog.  This steel blue color on the walls is so yummy, and paired with the natural golden and rust colors makes it even better.  I love that Pottery Barn offers their paint colors to us, because sometimes picking the right color and imagining it in a room is the hardest part of the decision making process.  What do you think?

Yellow Bird Project...

  As an artist myself, I know how hard it can be to get your ideas noticed let alone make money with your creations.  You put alot of your heart into your work and hope for the best.  This is why I really love seeing things like the Yellow Bird Project.  It is a not for profit organization that seeks out artists to collaborate and make seriously awesome products such as T-shirts, coloring books etc. They have done work with bands such as K-OS, Beach House, of Montreal, and so many more.  Yellow Bird Project likes to think of themselves as a "Tree of creativity".   I must say...I have to agree.

    

Fit For A Ball...

  Are you kidding me!  I seriouly gasped when I saw this costume worn by Anna Dello Russo for the Vogue Paris Ball.  I would die to wear something like this.  Unfortunately Boise doesn't quite have the same opportunities for an event like this as Paris does, so maybe this will just have to be a little inspiration for some fun Halloween costumes.

Jak and Jil Blog