Bits & Pieces

You GUYS I’m so excited! I’m slowly getting around to taking care of small blog-aesthetic things, like finalizing a name for these silly “Things Thursday” posts! Let’s face it, “This, that, & the other” is a tired, boring title (to me at least) but it sufficed til I could dream up something more fitting. After stressing unnecessarily about it for weeks (so much for not sweatin’ the small stuff, ha!) I’m happy to announce that the all-elusive title dilemma has been resolved!  

Just to recap, Bits & Pieces is a list of things that I love, am inspired by, or just find plain interesting, published every Thursday morning. After many years of avid blog reading, one o f my favorite features on any given blog, even now, is some sort of ‘love list’…whether it’s “Friday Favorites”, “Three Things for Whatever-day”, etc. There’s so much awesome out there, and it’s nice to stumble upon a fun fact or bit of inspiration when you least expect it!

And now, for this week’s list of beauty and such: 

 1. This incredible recipe for heart polka dot macarons and vanilla bean blueberry cupcakes from Raspberri Cupcakes. Is your mouth watering yet?! This just SOUNDS like a whole lot of delicious, not to mention looks so fresh and dainty. 

2. This DIY Love embroidery sampler from dropcloth etsy shop owner Rebecca Ringquist. Her blog takes embroidery and textile art to a whole new level; blows my mind!


3. This post written by the ever-witty Amy of Vanagon Champion (formerly known as A is for Ampersand) was like a breath of fresh air; wholly empowering. Her words are so true! I was yelling "YES!" and air-fiving the whole time. I've noticed that many around the blogosphere (myself included, newbie that I am) are falling into that trap of comparison, and the lack of joy it brings is a total creativity/originality killer. A definite must-read if you're there or could use a pep talk on owning it and doin' you (:


4. And to follow that up, quite a long ramble on staying inspired by Elise of Enjoy It (don't be fooled by the title, it's a breezy read I promise). Because, you know. Once you own it, staying motivated only works when you know what motivates you (and is super important for the blah days). 

5. I know, I know. I hyped them up a few days ago but I seriously CANNOT get enough of Dry the River. This live performance of "Demons" while floating the canals of Amsterdam?! Seriously?! And of course, Peter Liddle belts out my favorite lyric as they go under a bridge so the whole thing is echo-y and dramatic: But death is a force, not a man on a horse/I'll keep you safe while you sleep.Swoooooncity. 

6. This photo is so beautiful; knittin' pretty, amiright? 

7. UHM, remind me again why I don't live in London?! I discovered the wonder that is Ray Stitch (part workshop, part fabric/yarn/haberdashery shop, part cafe) via a recent shop tour post on Poppytalk, but after visiting the shop's actual site, I was floored. We're talkin' jskaontheground. You may not be able to order a sandwich while you browse, but their online shop sells just about everything, practically bringing what I'm going to call the Ray Stitch Experience to you! (Except ordering online from the comfort of your home will never beat perusing the shelves of this shop in real life, in LONDON).

I'm really really impressed with their variety of fabrics, ribbons and trims, yarn, sewing books and patterns (even vintage, y'all!), and most of all, HABERDASHERY. Mainly because if there's anything you take from this blog, it's that HABERDASHERY is my favorite word. I also happen to love sewing notions/haberdashery (as well as Are You Being Served? which has 'haberdashery' in the theme song)...so it works out. I'm also dying over that Merchant & Mills sewing box....not like I NEED anymore of these things, but they just look so much fancier all separated and organized. Not to mention the crisp design! I'm such a sucker for packaging sometimes. Yikes, I'll stop rambling! OH but PS if you live in London PLEASE make me jealous by visiting this magical shop and telling me ALL about it! 

8. This quote by renowned dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp from her book The Creative Habit. It's one of my favorites, and I'll be talking more about it in the next few weeks. Just wanted to share some of the love ahead of time (:


9. This List of 20 Things to Stop Apologizing for, found via Yes and Yes' weekly dose of web time wasters (her blog is fantastic, by the way...she wrote a guest post recently about how we should stop pretending it's always easy; this woman is genius) is a lot of fun. What do you think? 

10. This fun beso-sponsored shoot of Bri from Designlovefest. Um, I could get lost in her blog. Seriously. Woman after my own heart ("where type and images totally make out"?! YESIDO?!)


Happy Thursday everyone! It's almost that time...anyone have exciting weekend plans lined up? Is there an article or bit of art you think I should check out? Let me know! (PS these awkwardly large space breaks are bothering the HECK outta me and I haven't been able to fix them. If anyone has any suggestions, send em my way!)