books in windowsills

We love books. I love our own growing collection. When we move away from Arizona, it will be sad to leave all of our bookshelves behind....so this windowsill display is rather spectacular. Via Darling Dexter.

vincenzo rizzo

New obsession: Vincenzo Rizzo. Wowza.

friends of the library

Craziest literary experience today. We got a phone call from some friends telling us there was a massive book sale to benefit the Phoenix library system. We figured we'd check it out and stock Tommy's school bookshelves with some classics. I was anticipating a morning of digging through old cardboard boxes up to my elbows in books.

However, the warehouse was a WAREHOUSE of monstrous proportions. It was a cataloged, organized, and alphabetized. There was no digging....only grabbing and balancing the reads in our arms.

It was book-heaven. We walked away with over 60 books (and 2 vintage maps!) for less than $35. And it was so wonderful to hold some of those stories in my hands...tales I haven't read since high school...I was smiling the whole time...it was like spending time with old friends.

glass blowing

I'm a Chihuly fanatic. His work gives me goosebumps. The color...the forms...the whimsy of it all just leaves me teary eyed and inspired (not to mention I wrote my senior thesis paper on him for Art History degree!) My affection for Chilhuly is shared with my mom - who is a sucker for beautiful glass. She used to beg me to learn glass-blowing...isn't that funny?

Well mom, our dreams could come true. Sonoran Glass Academy in Tucson, has classes open to the public to learn a variety of glass manipulation...including blowing!!!! I'll be moving to Tucson in two weeks...ummm...I might do this. I seriously might do this.

I just love when wishes come true.

mlk

When I lived outside of Philadelphia last fall, I lived next door to the seminary where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received his Bachelor's in Divinity in 1951. It's no longer a seminary, but a part of a hospital system where administrative offices are held.

I accidentally stumbled upon this lil gem while exploring the 'hood one day. When I read the plaque, I was practically doing cartwheels I thought it was so cool!

All I have to say is, thank you Dr. King....thank you for dreaming.

new orleans

great pic of Bourbon St. via here.

Did I mention that on our road back to Arizona from New England we stopped for a couple nights in New Orleans? I grew up hearing about New Orleans almost every day. My mom lived there for a number of years in the 70's...it's her city...her favorite place. I've always wanted to go.

We stayed at a quaint B&B in the French Quarter...dined on red beans n' rice, jumbalaya, gumbo, Hurricane's, and beignets (not in that order). We stayed up late tappin' our feet in little old jazz clubs (that don't have websites!!). I bought a painting of Pirate's Alley, in Pirate's Alley. I bought my mom "her" perfume at Hove.

It was rainy and perfect and it rocked my world.

That is one amazing place.

machine hunt

My 28th birthday came and went in December. My fiance sent me an I O U for a sewing machine!! It's what I really really wanted :-)

Today I set out to pick one out. No success. The holidays cleared out most of the affordable machines from the shops. So....I'll keep reading up on sewing machines...which brands do what...how I can get the biggest bang for my buck...what machines can handle quilting.... (I am so totally clueless when it comes to things like sewing...)

All I know is that allllllllll I want to do is quilt!!

I love this blog, Posie Gets Cozy...her projects are so delightful.

simplify

I moved back home this weekend. Spent two solid days cleaning out my closets and boxes. I've accumlated too much stuff. While I was living back east I lived out of three suitcases - and it was honestly too much stuff for 4 months!

My goal for 2010 is to get back to the basics. Downsize. Minimize. Simplify. Very excited.

I'm diggin' these illustrations via Black*Eiffel