design sponge DIY vintage tin candles

Do you swoon over decorative vintage tins? Like candles and pretty little scents?  Enjoy a small DIY project with big rewards?  Yup, me too.

I found this DIY vintage tin candle project on Design Sponge this morning and I just had to share it (and some of their photographs) with you.  Simply click on over to their lovely little blog for complete instructions.

Share

get to the point!

I'm nuts for needlepoint.  Seriously.  What is up with this?  I just turned forty (that part is read softly as if whispering) and all of the sudden I'm acting like a Grandma.  I simply can't seem to get enough of needlepoint.  Fortunately, there is only so much needlepoint one person can have in their home and only so few dollars in my wallet or we'd all be in trouble.  (And I haven't the time nor energy to learn a new craft.  Well, at least not THIS week.)

This is just a small assortment of the pillows, eye glass cases, cell phone cases, paperweights & footstools that we stumbled upon at the Jonathan Adler store in San Francisco today.  And a to-die-for orange apartment sofa thrown in for good measure.  I want them all.  I bought one.  Because I really, truly "NEEDED" a new eyeglass case.  Really.  You'll have to trust me on that one.

Share

got mail?

How totally fun is this antique farm house post office mail sorter?  I think it would be so perfect in combination with our mostly mid-century decor.  But what would I put in it?  Or more importantly... what would you??

Share

young at heart

young at heart

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

Browse by Space and Style- For Example:

Contemporary Kitchen · Modern Bathroom · Contemporary Living Room · Tropical Bedroom · Modern Dining Room · Traditional Homes · Contemporary Patio · Contemporary Landscaping ·

Are you looking to redecorate your child's room?  Or are you a voyeur that just likes looking at other peoples homes like I do? In either case, I've put together a brief Ideabook of whimsical kids rooms on Houzz for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy!

Share

close to my heart

I have to admit, I'm a sucker for lockets. Have been for some time. My mother gave me my first real locket as a college graduation gift. There is just something so personal and so intimate about them.  What better way to keep a memory of someone close to you?  Even if you don't fill it (which I often admittedly don't)... the space is there... and somehow you know how you would allocate it. And that is nearly as just meaningful.  

I was curious as to the origin of lockets and wanted to see if there was something outside the obvious, and there wasn't really, but I thought I'd share some of what I found here. And then I wanted to assure you that our zuzu girl handmade lockets are most definitely poison free!

..."In times past a locket was used to carry around small things that had some value to the wearer. Medicine could be kept inside them as well as poison. Ancient times could be very dangerous to live in and the act of poisoning someone who was a threat to you was often a means of disposing of them. It was a lot more common than you might think. Lockets were also used by those who held certain beliefs in herbs and like charms to ward off evil and sickness. The hair or ashes of loved ones was often kept inside a locket as one of many items kept as a keepsake.

Lockets were often used to put a miniature hand painted picture inside. These tiny images of the person inside were very tedious work, but done by an expert artist the result was a beautiful work of art. In the past hundred years or so is when the most popular use for lockets developed so to speak. Placing photographed pictures inside them became their most common use and photos could be had by almost anyone...."

Share

Our Deepest Fear

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

~Marianne Williamson

Just in case you, too, need a little inspiration this morning.  Now read it again.  And then go shine!

Share

OPEN for business!

The new, grown-up zuzu girl handmade reopened last night.  Consider yourself informed!  I only had time to get eight listings up last night (I forgot how tedious the process is!) but I've got at least two dozen more beauties ready to list... and so many more to make for you.  Please keep checking back and we'll do our best to keep you informed here about the pretty little goodness at zuzu girl and all around us.

We're so happy to be back.

Happy Hump Day!

Share

ooooh, orange!

How cool is this orange epoxy concrete floor?  Not sure I'd be daring enough to do it myself so I'm just gonna keep staring at this fabulously cool flat highlighted by Dwell a little more...

Share

casting off?

 Loving this article from ohdeedoh about the "cast-off" furniture trend.  I'll admit it.  I had a cinder block & 2x4 book shelf in my college bedroom.  And it was tres chic at the time.  But now I'm head over heels in love with this pallet bed and spool coffee table.  Want them.  If anyone would like to cast them off to me I'll take 'em both...

Share

zuzu girl grows up

It's official.  After just one short month of announcing that we were closing our shop... we are reopening... with a whole new look!  

 

Now, you should know that I am not schizophrenic.  Pretty little pinky swear.  We just... Well, we just have a hard time doing nothing. (As if I'm ever actually doing nothing even when I am "doing nothing".)   

 

We are still waiting for most of our supplies to arrive but we've whipped up a few favorites for your viewing  pleasure.  The look is inspired by, well, me.  It's California bohemian meets urban chic.  It's looking hip while riding your Mundo to school pickup or feeling sexy while sipping cocktails with your best gals at a swanky restaurant.  Sometimes in the same outfit.  It's making a statement without making a fuss.  Effortless beauty.  Unique style.  It's the new, grown up, zuzu girl handmade.

And we hope you simply adore it.

Follow us on facebook.  Or choose to be notified on Etsy.  Either way.  We'll be launching soon...

Share

a week in review

I know.  A week in review should probably happen on a Friday, right?  Well, just consider me creative, all right?  Or late.  Whichever.  I was just scrolling through some of the fabulously inspirational items I posted on our Facebook page over the last week and couldn't help but to share them here too. Just in case you missed them the first time.  Or wanted to see them again.  Here's hoping last week was lovely.  And this week is even better.  Cheers!

1.vintage ice cream scale 2.brooch bouquet 3.acrylic ring 4.howlite necklace 5.wobbly stoneware 6.embroidered dress 7.chiffon shoe clips 8.vintage mirror 9.mini carpet bag

Share

zuzu girl {hearts} her customers

 Thanks to the Mom that was willing to share this fabulous photo of her daughter in her blue charming solid blooms headband.  Simply lovely.  And we adore seeing our hard work in action!  There are still quite a few headbands left in the shop.  Get 'em while you can...

Share

it's been beautiful here

As you may have noticed, I haven't posted here in what is now approaching a month.  And, if you follow me on facebook you may or may not have seen the quick note that I dropped a few weeks back alerting fans that I will be closing my zuzu girl handmade shop.  But then I just kept on posting all of my favorite pretty little things there like usual.

So what gives you may ask?

Well, life gives. 

And time. And money. And two glorious children. 

I've been trying to figure out what direction to take this shop for the past six months.  I've made great strides and had so much fun morphing from frilly princess props to classy accessories.  

I love to create.  And I honestly don't know how I'm going to NOT create.  But I just can't afford to continue running the business as I have been.  I have, quite simply, found myself short on the time, money and energy to give to the shop what it rightfully deserves.  

And so, another chapter must end.  

But, I haven't written the end of the story just yet.  Not even in outline form... so it's going to be a surprise to us all!  

I finished my last wholesale order on Monday and my last custom order this morning.  As of tonight I will no longer be adding any new merchandise to the line.  The shop will stay open for just a bit as I inventory and organize.  Much of the product will be picked up by a local retailer so I won't be marking any of it down in the shop.  Any remaining merchandise will, over time, be gifted to my favorite friends, customers & charities.

 

The question now is how to stay connected to the brilliant, supportive Etsy community that I have so embraced over the last two years.  Because, while I think I can manage to walk away from the Merchant role, I simply can't just walk away all together. 

And so I ponder.  How will you be best served by my passion?  And how will I best fill my innate desire to design, decorate, shop and share?  Should I resurrect my previous blog "it's beautiful here" and continue to bring you all the latest products, parties & people I'm lusting over?  Or should I just change the format here and just keep on keeping on?  Or, is there another retail adventure up my sleeve?  

Only time will tell.  

Would you like me to get to the point now?

Yup, figured so.

So first, if there is something you want in the shop get it now. Before it is gone. If you want multiple items and want to ask me for a bulk discount, go ahead, can't hurt!

And last... (nope, nothing in between) please don't bail on me yet.  I'll be here to entertain you one way or another.  And I'll be sure to let you know how and where... as soon as I do.

It's been simply beautiful.

Thank you for everything.

Cheers,

Kristi

 

Share

fit for habitation

So if we start now (notice the "we") it might be done by next summer.  Which better be warmer than this summer.  But that is really quite irrelevant because this thing is so damn cool it wouldn't matter how warm it was.  

Courtesy of domestic creations by way of Jordan Ferney.

Share

going local

Going local, yet somehow still transporting myself to some charming place far, far away every time.  

I simply adore Maison Reve.  Located smack in the heart of downtown Mill Valley, California, Maison Reve means "dream home" in French.  And that it is.  After you've oooh'd and aaaah'd around the shop for a long while, you truly feel like you should sit down, put your feet up and enjoy that steaming hot cup of Peet's.  And I bet they wouldn't mind a bit.

Sadly, I'm usually racing by with any combination of dog, bike, scooter, skateboard, children (and of course a coffee) so I don't always have time to poke around.  But this weekend, sans kids, and thanks to a dear friend visiting from "the other coast" I made the time.  And I'm so glad I did.

I left with the small Holland flower vase pictured in the first image.  It's charming.  And not really all that small.  Once I get some pretty little flowers for it I'll snap a picture for you.  

Now, the ambiance is just not quite the same, but you can shop from her website... or get some inspiration from her blog.  But really you should just come visit.  I'll buy the coffee.

Share

orange you glad I didn't say banana?

 I love orange.  And the way Zuzu can never, ever tell the knock knock joke correctly... but how it always ends up hysterical anyway. So I just couldn't resist curating this fab treasury tonight.  You can see it HERE on Etsy to click the images live.  Cheers!

Share

fruit salad ice cream cone

When Naomi put this post up on her blog a few days back, she actually referred to herself as "mad in the head".  I'm assuming she did this because she writes a blog called Bakers Royale, and I can appreciate that this is hardly baking but, mad in the head?  Nope.  Brilliant.  Love it. 

Although I'm still not honestly sure what I think about the hidden candy treasure in the bottom (read her entire post - they need something to weigh them down).  Kinda defeats the purpose.  And the rice is, as she says, "boring!"  How about a few little (or one really big) "natural" vanilla marshmallows like they sell at whole foods?  My kids would definitely go for that!  

Although, admittedly, they would prefer the skittles.

Thanks go to Modern Handmade Child on Facebook for the link!

Share

cupcakes & cartwheels paperclips

I picked these up at my local Paper Source yesterday (LOVE this shop).  Don't need them.  Couldn't resist them.  They are made by a company called Cupcakes & Cartwheels that doesn't seem to have it's own website, otherwise I'd share it.  I could most certainly make them myself but for $8.95 a dozen I chose immediate gratification.  Only problem?  They are so darn pretty on this paper I don't want to take any off!  And might not...

Share

wake me up before you go-go

OK, seriously now.  How fun is this chick? 

Don't you worry now.  She's got Kenny Rogers, INXS and even a little Tiffany too.  Am I dating myself too much?  

Everything in her Etsy shop is handmade from re-purposed fabrics purchased locally.  She's Sally Ann and she made me smile in a big way tonight.  Thanks Sally Ann!

Share

blooming pencil pot

Is it Tuesday already?  Oh my!  How time flies when you're recovering from a birthday party, six visiting, but not necessarily related to each other relatives AND school has been out for seven long weeks.  Did I say long?  Did I mention that it reopens three weeks from today? Nah. But who's counting?

I spotted these fabulous flower pot pencils right away in the new Fall issue of Modern Handmade Child to which I am typically a contributor... just not this month.  Even still, it's contents are simply fabulous.  These fabric flower pencils are shown on page 25.  They are also available for sale at little cat on Etsy.

Share