Big News!

Okay, my lovely blog friends, I have some news! I am... engaged? No. I am... pregnant? No. I am... moving? Yes! I am moving!!! Very soon - as in pack your bags, let's go! This will be my very first place of my own and I will be living alone. Well, with Oliver. 

But wait, it gets better... My papa is the owner of this lovely unit and planned on remodeling the unit once it was empty. I am the resident designer here, so... I get to design my own apartment! The kitchen, the bathroom, the flooring, the walls, everything! Here is the kitchen I designed using Ikea's kitchen planner (my fifth). 

Here is the kitchen today:

Here is the living room today:

And.... all of my art will finally have a home! I have photos, acrylic, oil, watercolor, gocco and letterpress prints all ready to adorn my walls! It will be so much fun to figure out how to style everything and I will be sure to keep you guys in the loop!

So... since I will be packing up my life over the next few weeks, insightful and personal posts will probably be light. However, I do have a bunch of giveaway and featured artist posts all queued up for you to enjoy!

We Have A Winner! {Or Two!}

Whew, what a busy weekend! Here are the winners for the last two giveaways!

For the Eastwitching Giveaway....

Pippi is the winner!!

For the Eliza Frye Giveaway....

Malinda is the winner!!

You will both be emailed right away! Check those inboxes! :)

Thanks to everyone who entered and to both Eliza and Alison for your generosity!

Focus On... Kris Nations! {And A Discount!}

A few weeks ago, I shared my excitement when Kris Nations was featured on Ideeli and teased you with her upcoming feature. Well, here it is! Kris Nations is run by two sisters, Kim and Kris, and Kim graciously answered my questions and offered a discount code just for Kate and Oli readers. Read on!

Tell me about your company. 

My sister Kris and I started this company in 2005 when we were unable to find unique jewelry items, within our budget.

{peacock pendant necklace}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

Most of our collection is made from original artwork cut from recycled metals. Using our own artwork allows us to be more creative and unique.

{friendship cuff bracelet}

Where do you get your inspiration? 

It sounds cliche but we find inspiration everywhere. we live in the san francisco bay area and inspiration is truly everywhere - people, nature, architecture.

{fool's gold ring}

What is your favorite music to craft by? 

Bjork, the pixies, npr (not music but i do listen daily).

{geo leaf cuff}

When it's cold outside...
I hope it's snowing in tahoe so I can go snowboarding!

{wildflower moon necklace}

When I'm hungry...
I join my son for snack time.

{bird in flight pendant}

When I need a boost...
coffee for sure and probably a cookie :)

{champagne necklace}

I wish I was/were...
in Hawaii or Mexico swimming in the ocean

{pebble earrings}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be...
a green thumb

{rough cut quartz ring}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be...
my maternal grandmother, she passed away when I was 11. She is a huge inspiration for our collection.

{owl earrings in turquoise}

If you were an animal, what would you be? 
a Pterodactyl.

{large dahlia earrings}

What's your favorite piece of your own?
I really love these Peacock Feather Hoops, they are versatile and dress up any ensemble.

{peacock feather hoops}

What are your favorite blogs/websites right now? 
We recently bought a house so I'm spending time reading up on home decor. My favorite, and more recent discovery is The Brick House.

You can find Kris Nations

on facebook

and on their site.

Kris Nations has offered a discount code for Kate and Oli readers! Simply enter code "KO25" for a 25% discount on any order over $40!

Cart-Worthy + Heart-Worthy: Dia de los Muertos Edition!

I have been in love with Dia de los Muertos themed items lately. Did you see my post on the Disneyland decorations? I have been scouring etsy for Day of the Dead themed items lately and here are some of my favorites!

{soccer calaveras print - $10}

{cancion de los muertos pet tie - $8}

{virgin mary print - $18}

{day of the dead sugar skull mary janes - $24}

{a lovely couple print - $16.25}

{sugar skull kitties mug - $25}

{day of the dead soft baby booties - $14}

{calavera embroidery - jenny - $15

*i love the description: Jenny is looking for a home where she can spend time by a window, watching for butterflies. She is a sweet young lady who likes gardening and THE FLESH OF CHILDREN.*}

{mini colorful skull garland - $7.50}

{aqua calaveras bib - $12}

Have you found any fabulous Dia de los Muertos items lately? Share them with me!

Homemade Dumbo & The Mouse Costumes!

{we saw these awesome homemade costumes at Disneyland last weekend. we asked their mom how long it took her to crochet them and she said 4 weeks! they are seriously cute!}

My Totally Awesome Happy Kitty Shoes!

I already told you I love Em and Sprout's super cute handmade shoes here, so of course, I bought some!

Here are my awesome kitty cat shoes! 

I bought a size 8, though I normally wear a 9. However, I followed her sizing guide and measured my foot and these fit perfectly! They are super comfy (though I probably wouldn't wear them alllll day because they're pretty flat) and I got a TON of compliments on them. I think I convinced my mom to get the Frankenstein pair! Go get your own at Em and Sprout!

Focus On... Man Vs. Ink!

When I was in third grade, we made pop-up books based on our favorite sea creatures. I will never forget the wonder and amazement of turning the page and seeing a squid pop off the page towards me. So, when I saw Man Vs. Ink's pop-up portland post card, I knew I had to see the rest of his shop! Fred, the man behind the magic, has answered my questions, so read on to learn more about Man Vs. Ink!

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

I work mainly with silk screen printing. It was my main focus in school because I love the look of the ink on paper, and have a passion for the process. It allows me to make a large amount of high quality original pieces. That way, I can sell my work to many people and keep my prices down. I like to fit any budget!

{america - two color silk screen}

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

My girlfriend had much success on etsy, so I decided to check it out! It's great because I have a 24 hour shop accessible from all over the world. Its been easy to use, and I found a great community of diy business people/ artists to interact with. 

{american woman vintage paper collage}

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration from my everyday life. I have a passion for simple living and a diy attitude, and appreciation for the small things. I am driven to make work about things I love, to connect with people who share my interests, and inspire people to try the things that make me happy.

{portland pop-up post card}

What is your favorite music to craft by? 

Anything you can dance to! I like to get my blood pumping, and music helps me get my feet moving and get in a groove. Drum and bass or DJ mix tapes.

{handmade in oregon print}

When it's cold outside... we still gotta get out there! Its a big wide world!

When I'm hungry... look out! Gimme something fresh and delicious quick, so I can get back to work.

{let's network together!}

When I need a boost... I put on a pot of north west blend. Grind those beans!

I wish I was/were... working from Amsterdam, I'd love to visit or live there.

{onward}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be... a bike. You can ditch your gasoline bill, get in great shape, and see the city from a better perspective.

{time for coffee}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be... Obama. I have some ideas Mr. Prez!

{grow local print}

What's your favorite piece of your own? 

Start a Revolution. I think that print embodies my true philosophy. We can make a difference if we change our own lives.

{start a revolution}

What are your favorite blogs/websites right now? 

Fffound, Design Sponge, Modish.

You can find Man Vs. Ink
on his blog,
on his illustration site,
on twitter,
on flickr,
and on etsy!

Dia de los Muertos the Disneyland Way!

I went to Disneyland last Saturday and was impressed by the Dia de los Muertos decorations! 

{kyle posing next to the display}

{lindsay {and her ghost mickey popcorn bucket) with the band}

{such pretty garlands!}

{me and my new friend}

{and this one isn't Dia de los Muertos related, but i love this picture!

lindsay, kyle, andrew and briana}

I never used to be a fan of this type of thing, but lately I'm liking them a lot more! So much so, that I made a Cart-Worthy + Heart-Worthy: Dia de los Muertos Edition! Keep an eye out, it's coming soon!

Focus On... Jane Joss! {And Free Shipping!}

I love plants and flowers, but I hate paying $10 for a bouquet of flowers that will last a few days! As for plants, I have a lovely selction, but they're outside, because Oliver likes to eat plants. So, when I saw Jane Joss, I thought, perfect! Plants that don't die, can be changed seasonally, and Oliver can't destroy! Hurray! Read on for an interview with the women behind Jane Joss and a free shipping code!

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

Jane Joss is an alias for Alyssa & Joslyn Krismer. We are sisters-in-law, best friends, and both mothers of two. We started Jane Joss in January of 2009 and are having a blast!

{4th of july sweet potted plant}

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

It just seemed like the perfect fit for what we were creating. We were, at the time, completely clueless about selling handmade goods. When we were convo'ed about a custom order within 15 minutes of posting our first listing we knew we were in the right place!

{halloween mix sweet leaves}

Where do you get your inspiration?

Nature, of course, was our initial inspiration. Now that we have our basic designs created, fabric is our biggest inspiration. We love finding new styles, designs, textures, and color combinations. 

{orange harvest sweet wreath}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

I have to admit I craft listening to the television! 

{blossom blue sweet leaves}

When it's cold outside... it means I get to wear a great jacket!

{spring romance mini potted plants}

When I'm hungry... I try to ignore it, then head straight for the kitchen.

{nautical navy sweet leaves}

When I need a boost... have a girls night out.

{purple tile sweet wreath}

I wish I was/were... on vacation.

{woodland owl sweet leaves}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be... a book.

{circus dot sweet leaves}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be... my grandma.

{sunshine bouquet sweet leaves} 

If you were an animal, what would you be? a cat. I love naps!

{aqua blue sweet potted plant}

What's your favorite piece of your own? 

A mother-in-law's tongue plant made from a striped green fabric. It is so fun and unique. 

{mod garden sweet leaves}

What are your favorite blogs/websites right now? 

I honestly don't read online much, but we love Design*Sponge, BHG.com, and any blog that features us! I am kind of addicted to eonline. Oh, Joslyn started a blog for our book club! 

You can find Jane Joss
on etsy
and on facebook!

** FREE international shipping on floral branches through 10/31/10. Mention code "ED3BDay" in message to seller for a PayPal refund! **