hmmmm.... eye jewelry?

According to this Utube article, Eric Klarenbeek -from Amsterdam - actually began this project back in 2005. Well, here it is!

If you can't see the video, you can find it here.

I'd love to hear what you think! (and no, I'm not considering making them) ouch!

Quote of the Day

"I cannot do everything;
but I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."
- Edward Everett Hale

neighborly blog...

so my friend, and neighbor, has started a blog... (you might remember her from here.... or here...{and no, the tattoo's still not completely gone...) and she's a redhead now!
She has some interesting insights! Perhaps you'd like to check it out!!
Find it here....thoughts out loud

Quote of the Day

"Learning is the best of all wealth; it is easy to carry, thieves cannot steal it, and tyrants cannot seize it; neither fire nor water can destroy it; and far from decreasing, it increases by giving. "
- The Naladiyar

Friday funnies....

Investment Advice

If you had bought $1000.00 worth of Nortel stock some time ago, it would now be worth $49.00.
With Enron, you would have $16.50 of the original $1,000.00.
With Worldcom, you would have less than $5.00 left.

If you had bought $1,000.00 worth of Budweiser (the beer, not the stock) one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the cans for the 10 cent deposit, you would have $214.00.
Based on the above, my current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.
via
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Recent Study

A recent study conducted by Harvard University found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year.
Another study by the American Medical Association found that Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year.
This means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon.
via

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Follow these directions for a laugh:

Click here

Enter your first name in the first box

Enter your last name in the second box

(You don’t have to enter email address)

Click on the “Visualizar” button (It’s not in English, but you’ll laugh.)

Quote of the Day

"We work in the dark, We do what we can, We give what we have, Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task, The rest is the madness of art."
- Henry James

A to Z favorites.... "P"

Today I'm featuring things that begin with the letter "P"



Paisley Dream
&
Polka Dot halter dress!


When I originally found these I never even realized that they were created by the same person!

Aren't they fabulous???

They're the creations of a very talented Canadian designer on Etsy called Tangente.
Find these here.


(along with many other beautiful things!!!)





perbacco... a simply perfect corkscrew.....



Further to the aesthetic aspect, the peculiarity of “perBACCO” is good functionality: by pushing on the shoulder of the bottle it becomes one body with it. The circular shape allows to maintain a good adherence and stability during the extraction.
The peculiar circular shape reminds a halo, and gives to the bottle and consequently to the wine an expression of virtue, dowry and prestige. Found via DesignSpotter


Publiqe Living - PopMat Paper Placemats (how's that for alliteration?)

A charming addition to your table setting in the form of pop-up graphics on disposable paper placemats.
Each design incorporates an area which doubles as a name card, as in the back of the chair, the mailbox, and the sign post. In packs of 10, available in 3 designs and 2 color options, White Sand and Natural Kraft. Made from 100% recycled paper... find them here.



Pontopidan oil candle

Pontopidan oil candle is something between a candle and an oil lamp, made in shiny polished steel. It has the charm and warmth of a candle but the security and reuse of an oil lamp – it neither drips nor burns down! Attach the enclosed mounting to the wall and place the magnetic oil candle on the mounting. The candle has a smart and easy mechanism for oil filling.

found via Scandinavian Design Center

Wordle

Having BIG FUN with Wordle!!  http://wordle.net
Am I the last one to know about this too??

Quote of the Day

"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today. "
- Dale Carnegie

Today is "Moon Day"

When? July 20th

CURRENT MOON

moon phases

Moon Day commemorates the day man first walked on the moon in 1969.

Even though I was just a little kid, I remember that day!

I don't remember the actual moon walk but I do remember thinking it must have been something really important because my dad let us stay up late to watch it on t.v.

I remember his reaction more than I remember anything else. He seemed mesmerized and somehow very proud. And very proud to be sharing this with his young daughters... we were the last generation to have been born prior to humans being space- exploring creatures.

You might find this interesting (I did at least!) ... "What It Feels Like … To Walk on the Moon" By Buzz Aldrin, 71, astronaut, as told to Mike Sager... read it here

(photo from my friend - Terri Harper - taken just for my blog!!!! YAY! Beautiful full moon - great shot Terri!)

So... what to do to celebrate Moon Day?

You could watch Apollo 13
You could learn more about how the moon affects us (here)
You could make Outer Space crafts with your kids!
You could walk around in slow motion and pretend you are weightless.
You could eat Space Food Sticks!!! YAY! Who else remembers these??? I didn't realize that you could still buy them!

hmmmm...
or you could get a "Man in the Moon" necklace from me!
It's for sale in my Etsy Shop!

ok... shameless plug... I know
but hey... a girl's got to make a living!

hmmmm..... what will they be?

my cookie from this afternoon! hmmmmm.... can't wait to find out!
View Blog

Friday funnies...

The Height of Lazinessvia

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Q - Can a guy named Nick have a 'nick 'name?

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How Adam Got Eve

Adam was hanging around the garden of Eden feeling very lonely.

So, God asked him, 'What's wrong with you?'

Adam said he didn't have anyone to talk to.

God said that He was going to make Adam a companion

and that it would be a woman.

He said, 'This pretty lady will gather food for you, she will cook for you,

and when you discover clothing, she will wash them for you

She will always agree with every decision you make and she will not nag you,

and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement.

She will praise you!

She will bear your children.

and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them.

'She will NEVER have a headache and will freely give you love

and passion whenever you need it.'

Adam asked God, 'What will a woman like this cost?'..

'An arm and a leg.'

Then Adam asked, 'What can I get for a rib

Of course the rest is history..... .......!! !!

Message Bean .... Check this out!!!

Oh I wish I would have found this when my A to Z favorites was on "M"... but I had to show it anyway.
How cool is this?
Believe it or not, each bean has a word lasered onto one side, and a complementary image on the other. How the heck do they do this???
It's so easy to do! The recipient just adds a little water then in a week or so this adorable little bean shows up with the special message!!!! And only $14.95!!!
Available in Thank You (with Thanks in Japanese), Love (with a heart), Happy Birthday (with a musical note), Happy Holiday (with two stars on the other side), and Get Well (with Get Well written in Japanese on other side). Good Luck is no longer available.
I'm trying now to figure out who I can send these to and I might stock up on the "happy holidays" ones....
I found this via The Spoon Sisters - a fabulous site... check it out here !!

Quote of the Day

"Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. "
-unknown

... a friend of mine, photographer Terri Harper, sent me this one... check out her blog!

http://terriharper.blogspot.com

... and the rains came....

Now I'm not sure of the actual numbers, but we've had so much rain here! I, of course, blame my neighbor - and partner in organic-gardening-crime... When we first started our little garden, she prayed for rain.....well someone is listening!!!
For those of you who saw my first post about our happy little garden.... I just thought I'd let you know- this is what has been happening...

poor baby garden... we had such high hopes for you!

green lettuce = good

1 red = good, 1 - on the verge

tomato plants - all on the verge

thyme, basil, sage = good

peppers - questionable

onions -so/so

cauliflower, cucumbers, other red lettuces, parsley, cilantro - total goners... :(

this is what the garden looked like sunday night at 8pm
My partner in crime spent her Saturday with a garden weasel... the soil looked great, all built up and fluffy...but then came the torrential downpour while she was finishing....

Sunday was beautiful. a little rain in the a.m. but all warm and sunny all day - and still we got this!

sucks.

Quote of the Day

"Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. "
- Dave Barry, Nationally Syndicated Columnist

" "

wow... I have nothing to say today... how weird is that?

A to Z favorites..... O

Today we're on the letter "O"... as in OH.. I want that!!!

Ones and Zeros... home of the "Lunch Monsters!"
These are the cutest things! I can't wait to get mine... I just ordered it on Thursday...


Lunch Monster "picnic" photo is by photographer Jessica Notargiacomo
You can get your own Lunch Monster here at Ones and Zeros Etsy shop! They're all handmade and 100% cotton.

OCHRE "OCHRE creates objects of style and beauty which are both timeless and contemporary. The collection consists of furniture, lighting and accessories for the interior, the emphasis being on the use of very high quality materials and flawless British craftsmanship. The simplicity and honesty of form and proportion, together with the luxurious materials result in an understated elegance, which has become the signature for OCHRE"

just look at some of their fabulous offerings!!!

Snooze sofa - snooze sofa in elephant grey nubuck and velvetArctic Pear table lamp

this amazing mirror

and fabulous silver leaf panel which can be found here.
orangetreeproject ...established as a non-profit (pending) the orangetreeproject donates the bulk of its profits to charitable causes. Their goal? To promote hope and faith in less fortunate families and make a positive impact on those who purchase their products... right now they have only stationary ~ which is positively gorgeous~ but soon they will also have apparel and home items~

Oversized Open Top Tote

I love this! I'd probably use it as a market bag - so stylish and practical too!!
"While the people who designed this nifty tote call it “The Original Deano”; the SpoonSisters simply refer to it as their favorite Oversized Open Top Tote.
Find it here.

via

Friday funnies....

Women Are Too Clever

Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter, ten men and one woman.

The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one had to leave, because otherwise they were all going to fall.

They weren’t able to name that person, until the woman gave a very touching speech. She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because, as a woman, she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids or for men in general, and was used to always making sacrifices with little in return.

As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping.

via

________________

Little Axioms Of Life

• Everyone has a photographic memory. Some people just don't have film.
• He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
• A day without sunshine is like, well, night.
• On the other hand, you have different fingers.
• Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
• Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
• Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it.
• She's always late. Her ancestors arrived on the Juneflower.
• You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.

via

I've been "Squidoo'd"

YAY! Not sure quite yet what "Squidoo" even is, but I know I'm excited to be on it!
here's the link....http://www.squidoo.com/monacodesigns

Quote of the Day

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”

- Edmund Burke

wow... God types really fast!

ok... you can repent here

Ok.. have you heard of this yet? ... am I that last one to know?

iGod.... it's an interactive chat box where you can repent to 'god'. Apparently a chat bot written by Steve Jobs.

It's not very creative really and it lacks some proper grammatical skills but it is entertaining! And a little addictive!

I felt like I was in a "who's on first" skit~!

Quote of the Day

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
- Ronald Reagan

A to Z favorites... N

today is the Letter N

let's start with NaomiClearyCeramics...
from Fishtown, PA (near Philly), Naomi Cleary creates beautiful, functional works of art... here's what she has to say...
"Dishes hold the potential for human connection through their tactile nature. Most of us have associations and memories connected to dishes. We look at dishes and can easily imagine using them. They live in our physical space, in our kitchen cabinets, are used every day. They have a relationship to our bodies. We pick them up and even touch them to our mouths. Dishes speak of history and lineage, passed down from mother to daughter, connected to family dinners, celebrations and sharing. They are a reminder of the warmth and comfort found in domestic spaces."

find these casserole dishes hereor this round porcelain vase here

Beautiful work! I especially love the way she 'colors outside the lines' - sort of makes a statement, no? I want a coffee mug just like those casserole dishes... and it could remind me every morning that it's OK ~ hell, even preferable ~ to stretch beyond the normal limits...

for all of you typography lovers... the Number Scarf.... looks like lace, doesn't it? It's made from Microfiber Suede and comes in off-white and black (also in letters! uppercase or lowercase) find it at Little Factory - here.

I love to cook... but I still struggle with getting just the right amount of pasta cooked for the guests sitting at my table. Thanks to German Design studio, ding3000, the answer to my noodle problems has been solved.

Noooodle is a device designed for measuring spaghetti portions. Noooodle allows you to measure off just the right amount of spaghetti from one to up to four people. The design can also be used as a trivet (gotta love those multi-functional things!)

Konstantin Slawinski of ding3000 is responsible for manufacturing Noooodle.

NOIR - the woven market bag.....

Sweet sophistication meets environmental awareness! Woven seat belts provide beautiful texture and interest to this sophisticated urban bag. The seat belts are post production guality (overruns, off colored, and otherwise unusable for the auto industry) so, they've found new life and usefulness in this great bag.

Find it (and lots of other great stuff!) here.

Quote of the Day

"Kindness is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear. "
- Mark Twain

Friday funnies...

The Test

I was a very happy man. My wonderful girlfriend and I had been dating for over a year, and so we decided to get married. There was only one little thing bothering me - it was her beautiful younger sister.
My prospective sister-in-law was twenty-two, wore very tight miniskirts, and generally was bra-less. She would regularly bend down when she was near me, and I always got more than a nice view. It had to be deliberate. Because she never did it when she was near anyone else.
One day her “little” sister called and asked me to come over to check the wedding invitations.

She was alone when I arrived, and she whispered to me that she had feelings and desires for me that she couldn’t overcome. She told me that she wanted me just once before I got married and committed my life to her sister. Well, I was in total shock, and couldn’t say a word.
She said, “I’m going upstairs to my bedroom, and if you want one last wild fling, just come up and get me.”
I was stunned and frozen in shock as I watched her go up the stairs. I stood there for a moment, then turned and made a beeline straight to the front door.
I opened the door, and headed straight towards my car. Lo and behold, my entire future family was standing outside, all clapping!
With tears in his eyes, my father-in-law hugged me and said, “We are very happy that you have passed our little test. We couldn’t ask for a better man for our daughter. Welcome to the family.”
And the moral of this story is:
Always keep your condoms in your car.

via

somewhere new!

You know that saying that when God closes a door.. somewhere he opens a window?
Well here's my window! A wonderful salon in Westlake used to carry my work and it was quite successful there - but a few months ago they got bought out by another salon and it just doesn't have the same "vibe"... so I no longer stock my work there.
I was dissappointed until this week when I got an email from the owner of VanityLab!! Not only is she just a wonderful person, but look at what she has created in this salon!! It's amazing!
It really is stunning...

And they carry cards, photography, clothing and jewelry (that would be me!) by local artisans.

It's wonderful! Check it out here.

Quote of the Day

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
-Ronald Reagan

A to Z favorites...... M

M is for.....

Mary Gamelin... her love of fabrics certainly shows in these beautiful pillow covers she makes...

find her shop here.

My Grill ...
How fun is this???

Design your own Steak!

Impress your friends with transferring your own logo or name onto your barbecue-meat.

They can produce any logo or symbol that you want!

Found here on Design Spotter... can also be found (along with a bunch of other cool stuff) here.
Designer: Hannes freising (Germany) Manufacturer: haseform.de (Germany)

Matchstick Gardens!

Grow an herb or wildflower garden from a matchbook. Great design at a really great price!
These cute matchbooks hold a clever secret inside. Tear out a matchstick, plant it tip first in soil and you’ll soon have a flower or herb garden growing. On the tip of each match are seeds already mixed to grow either herbs or wildflowers.

Find them here

maggi’s minimalist oak desk... I so want to make this...

check it out! It's a DIY project found on Design*Sponge.

Find the instructions here.

The Meaning of Time is a brilliant clock concept perfect for all those crafty people out there. You can make your own clock~

It supplies the mechanism to keep time, you supply the hour and minute hands. You can use just about anything as long as it fits thru the holes.

...still, it's just a "concept" we can't actually buy these yet, but it's such a cool idea! You could change it all the time! (pun intended)
Designer: Bomi Kim

found via Yanko Design