Valentine's gift guide

Wary as I am of retailers' attempt to turn Valentine's Day into the new Christmas, it is fun to buy little gifts and trinkets to show someone that they are loved.  It's even more fun to break out the glitter and make handmade cards, especially now that Louise Fili and Jessica Hische's new "Love" stamps are available at the Post Office:

Note to the US Postal Service: you'll never have to worry about bankruptcy if you keep coming out with beautiful designs like this one.
 
Jewelry, chocolates, and fun little luxuries are always a welcome surprise, whether it's from a romantic partner or a good friend. But, as usual, all I really want this year is what I ask for every year: a handwritten, honest-to-goodness love letter!

1. Orelia Wishbone stud earrings at ASOS

2. Mint vintage nightie from Etsy seller altmeansold (or scour thrift stores!)

3. Ted Baker crystal bow stud earrings at ASOS

4. Lollia Poetic License Candle in Butterflie

5. MCMC Fragrances LOVE/ Odette NY Arrow ring gift set

6. Martha Stewart glitter and good old fashioned construction paper

7. Theo Chocolate Casanova Kiss gift set (Fair Trade!)

I'm Down with Downton

New Year.  I am going to nurse this blog back to health, I swear. Starting with the ladylike fashions of "Downton Abbey"- like a lot of other fans, I've been longing for the Crawley sisters' wardrobe, home, and flawless skin.

Lady Edith, Lady Mary, and Lady Sybil Crawley

 1.  Beaded deco top from Topshop   2. Velvet bow kitten heels from LL Bean Signature  3. Shakuhachi silk maxi skirt from ASOS (for a daring flash of ankle!)  4. Etienne Aigner riding boots at Piperlime  5. Silk pintuck blouse from J. Crew  
6. Cloche hat from Urban Outfitters  7. Vintage rhinestone earrings from Esty seller Lyonesse4gems

Also, is it just me, or is this supercute model from Steven Alan totally rocking Lady Mary's signature dewy-faced, side-part-chignon look? 

DIY Solid Perfume

Oh, blog, please forgive me for neglecting you. Work has been nonstop, which I suppose is a good thing.

All work and no play means there has been little time for fun projects, like Mandy Aftel's DIY solid perfume locket, as featured on DesignSponge.  This is one of the best tutorials I've seen in a looooong time: a project that is novel but genuinely useful, takes few special tools or ingredients to make, and is customizable for each person's tastes. I have to try this one. Maybe with geranium or orange blossom essential oils?

(image via DesignSponge)

Sick Days

The news for the past week:

The bad: I've been ill and had to go to the ER.  One of the downsides of having your own business is that there are no sick days, so I've been trying my best to catch up from the time I lost!

The good news: it's ranunculus season!! Spring is almost here!

Matchbook Magazine is here!

 the premier issue cover, painted by me

 The long-awaited Matchbook magazine (founded by Katie Armour and Jane Lily Warren) is finally here, and, boy, was it ever worth the wait!  You know how you'll see a magazine on the rack at the store that boasts of "135 Perfect Outfits!", "The 5-Minute Trick to Amazing Skin!", and then it ends up being the same crap they recycle every four months? Well, Matchbook's premiere issue is packed with actual helpful tips and insider info, extremely well-curated spreads, and interviews with some serious heavy-hitters, like Rita Konig, Miles Redd, John Derian, Lela Rose (its cover girl)... I could go on.

Yes, it's full of rich girls and their rich-girl things, but it seems to be angled more toward giving the readers the inside scoop, rather than the "Nyah, nyah, you wish you could be me" attitude I find in the features in most other magazines.

Now, if only I can handle the wait until the next issue...

Bass Shoes

Is it just me, or is Bass kind of killing it when it comes to spring footwear? These are all $80 and under!

Jeremy Miranda Greenhouses

Amazing. From his Etsy shop.