Are you calling me a Bird?

I love the entire line of home accessories from Joom. Hand silk screened, there are sizes and colors (oh the beautiful colors!) to match any decor in any room in any house!! I can't wait until I redecorate my bedroom this Fall!!! See more of her beautiful pillows, totes and even wall art with her unique and beautiful graphics HERE.

Cup of Joe

I am a coffee junkie...really...I drink about 3-4 cups a day. So, it is no suprise that one of my favorite shops on Etsy features the amazing pottery of Ralph Nuara. Deep rich colors in fantastic styles...I would be proud to drink my coffee in any of these cups! Prices start at only $12 for a small cup, but, the best (and coolest) deal is the Cup of the Month special, where you get one of his mugs every month for a year. What a fantastic idea for a wedding gift, Christmas (or holiday!) gift, or the coffee lover in your life! Check out more HERE.

Blue Skies

This gorgeous vase by Blue Sky Pottery is the most amazing shade of seafoam green...so lovely to add interest to a shelf, coffee table, countertop or bookcase. I love the detailing in this vase. So exquisite. See more fantastic colors and shapes HERE...you are sure to find a color to match any decor in your home!

Dressed Up Soap

I love when people come up with cool ideas for every day living. This soap bottle apron is handcrafted from a vintage orange drape and then embellished with some pretty ribbon. So clever! No need to put away your dish detergent anymore...this is pretty enough to keep out as an accessory! Only $4!!! See more handcrafted goods from Wilson's Handmade HERE.

Beautiful Birdies

How cute are these? Four standard measuring spoons hand cast in lead free pewter and topped with four beautiful birdies! The birds come perched on a copper display rack so they make a fantastic addition to any kitchen wall! Check out more cool kitchen gear by the Bee Hive Kitchen HERE.

Homegrown Pottery

I just love the little pottery plates by Handgrown Pottery. Handmade by Leesa Brinkley, each piece is a clever, colorful and cute little piece of art. Prices are reasonable too with prices starting at only $12! Leesa specializes in custom orders too...A perfect gift for newlyweds or a new mom! Check out more designs HERE.

Lights Out

Wow. This fabulous lamp by Funky Baubles is handcrafted from an apple gourd. Yes, an apple gourd! Finished with metallic red paint and embellished with red and green glass beads, this is such a cool addition to any household! Funky Baubles...indeed! See more interesting lamps made from other gourds HERE.

Cheep, Cheep!

I came across this adorable pillow by Jamtart Baby while on Etsy last night and just had to feature it! I just love the original illustration! Perfect for a child's bedroom or a fun summer cottage! Reasonably priced, the entire store is filled with a wonderful funky selection of fun stuff for both mom and baby.

Dawn Dalto

Carrying on with my Spring Re-do theme...how about these amazing porcelain wall boxes by Dawn Dalto. Using a technique called Sgraffito, the abstract silhouettes are produced by scratching through the surface of the black glazing to reveal the white underneath. These would look fabulous when paired in groupings of 2 or more and would add a wonderful contemporary edge to any wall! Check out her amazing pendants while you are there using this same cool technique.

Cool Site of the Week--Jennifer Squires Photography

An easy way to instantly update your house this Spring is to add some artwork to the walls. Beautiful photography is a relatively inexpensive way to add color, design, and a sense of cohesion to a room. Jennifer Squires is a photographer that I came across with a really amazing eye for composition and color. Being an avid gardener, I was instantly drawn to her flower photographs which would look great in any room in my house. I also love the contemporary flair of the wine and the sandwich photographs. I'd like to eat at the restaurant that made that sandwich! What a fun way to add some style to a kitchen! Since each print can be produced as large as 24x30 inches or as small as 4x6 inches, your only decision will be whether to get a large focal or a grouping of smaller images! If you happen to be in the London, Ontario area, she also does the most beautiful photographs of newborns that are sure to be treasures in those lucky families. More of her work can be viewed HERE and can be purchased HERE.

What's Cookin' Good Lookin'?

The fabulous spice kits and racks by Purpose Design make me want to cook more! Available in small and large sizes, they are a perfect gift for any occasion! I particularly love the Spicelab series...a wall mountable metal backed frame (available in your choice of finish to match any decor!) contains either 7 magnetized glass test tubes with cork stoppers or 8 magnetized glass top containers filled with a variety of spices. The perfect marriage of function (your favorite spices are close at hand) and beauty. Prices start at only $40!!

Copper Leaf Design

I have long been a fan of the artistic talents of Copper Leaf Design, a Cleveland based artisan (like myself!). Her gorgeous etched metal collages, a mixture of organic and geometric, have the most visually stunning colors and textures. The tiles measure 4" x 4" and, though lovely all by themselves, make a truly dynamic statement when displayed in multiples (as featured below.) Check out the site HERE for available options or contact the artist herself for a custom piece.

Mood Lighting

This siren red glass vase and candle holder by Vase Candle is so lustrous and unique...put a small tea light inside and it would look like it was glowing from within! Each piece is handcrafted and totally unique. Available in tons of colors, this would be a great hostess gift. Or, with Valentines Day rapidly approaching...some sexy mood lighting!! Only $17.95...which includes a candle insert! See more colors and size options HERE.

Shaken or Stirred?

This Snowflake Martini set by Wood Eye Glass is ideal for the elegant bar and holiday entertaining. The etched snowflakes instantly turn the set into a design piece. No need to keep this set tucked away in the bar. I would keep this out as a decoration during the holidays (when not in use of course!) and put tiny ball ornaments in them! Perfect to keep for yourself or give as a gift!

Madcap Tea Party

What a perfect gift for the tea lover in your life! The unusual shape and stark black and white color transform an everyday teaset into extraordinary experience! Old-fashioned with a contemporary twist. See more pottery and jewelry by the Blue Kraken HERE.

The Art of Decor

We just got a new bedroom set and so, of course, I want new bedding to go with it! These gorgeous silk pillows by LenkArt, a Canadian company that specializes in exclusive limited edition collections of pillows to bring contemporary design to your home, would be perfect with the dark ebony wood of the set. I especially love the rich colors and textures found in the Romantic collection...the rich browns and purples are just so luxe and elegant. See more options HERE, including a wonderful collection geared toward children's rooms.

Princess and the Pea

One of my favorite childhood fairy tales was the Princess and the Pea. I just loved the idea that a princess could be so spoiled that she could not fall sleep because of a pea under 40 mattresses. Well, with 2 kids, a full-time job, a jewelry business, and a blog to write, I sometimes feel like that princess...only I have just one mattress, with no pea, and I still can't fall asleep. However, for the past few weeks, I have been sleeping like a log (or like a true princess as the story goes) with my new down comforter from Plumeria Bay. Super soft and ultra lightweight, it truly feels like I am sleeping in a cloud. Available in a variety of sizes and weights, as well as a range of price points to suit most budgets, each comforter is made to order according to your personal preference. I have accepted that my life is busy right now, so getting a lot of sleep is not in my near future...but, the quality of it is something that I can control. This comforter truly makes me sleep like royalty. Check out all their comforters HERE, as well as their extensive line of duvets, pillows, and blankets.

Modern Graffiti

Here is an awesome gift idea for the little ones in your life. These paint by numbers wall strips in a variety of whimsical patterns are made for coloring and instantly and stylishly transform any room. The DIY friendly installation requires only water and is easily removed when the kids are done creating their very own masterpiece. How perfect for a party in the basement!! Don't have kids? I think the bright, pre-colored backgrounds and bold graphics look great on their own and would make a fun alternative to traditional wall art. A 15 foot roll is available for $20 at 2jane.com.

Cool Site of the Week--Artchestra

Artchestra is a charming on-line boutique that carries an exquisite selection of accessories, jewelry, art and home goods from some really talented independent emerging artists. Items range from ultrafeminine lampwork bracelets by Katie Gerner (the Kona featured below is one of my favorites), to beautiful clay boxes by Jennifer Lacour (all heavily embellished with copper, gemstones and beads), and simply stunning handformed clay bowls by Marea Palmer-Loh (the Honey Flower featured below has amazing pools of red and blue throughout). Colorful and cheerful, this is a great shop to do all your mother's day shopping at once. And, now through May 13, 2007, you can take 10% off your total purchase by entering the code MOM at checkout.

The Artsy Mom--JKral Art

Since Mother's Day is rapidly approaching, I thought this would be a great week to showcase some fabulous finds and give gift ideas to anyone who is looking to buy a mom a gift. First off...

These pop art inspired brightly colored contemporary prints by JKral are titled "A Mother Understands What a Child Does Not Say." Adopted from an old Jewish proverb, I think the title and sentimental pose are a really interesting contrast to the strong and lively colors. Each print is derived from an original drawing done in ink and then digitally colored. I think they would look great as a set and placed on a wall in a horizontal or vertical row. Check out more of JKral's artwork HERE.