Thing #96: Make my own Christmas cards

Last year, I made a promise – a promise that if you sent me an email with your postal address, I would send you a card.  It was one of those situations where I had a whole lot of love inside me and I didn’t know what to do with it – so I resorted, as I often do, to expressing it through stationery.

I didn’t tell you I was going to make the cards.  That was the element of surprise.

I thought I would have a few extra cards to make and write… but it turned out that I got a lot of emails and what I imagined to be some leisurely Christmas crafting turned into a two-day factory-style card-making extravaganza.  There is zero complaint in that sentence.

I used regular acrylic paints to do the illustrations and blank cards and envelopes from Paperchase.  It was so much fun.  Thanks to anyone who took part, and for all the lovely cards I received back.

This year, Christmas is looking a little like Crazytown Central, so I didn’t make any promises (I still love you).

€5 has been donated to UNICEF Ireland for the completion of this ‘thing’.  Click here if you too would like to donate online.

How did it get so late so soon?

The wisdom of Dr. Seuss… anyone else feeling like this lately?

It’s Here

It’s here.  December is here.  We can start talking about Christmas now… officially… not in hushed tones. 

Day Zero Project: an update

If you’re a regular little t reader, you will know that I have been doing the Day Zero Project (working my way through a list of 101 things to complete in 1001 days).  You may have noticed that Day Zero has come and gone.  I was supposed to be all done by October 3rd.  1001 days seems like a long time, until those days start ticking away.  When I realised my time was nearly up, I thought it would be better to just keep going.  I’m a little over half way there and I’m not giving up yet, even if it ends up taking me 2002 days.

Anyone else doing this?  How is it going?

Fear

Taking Photos

Made me smile.  I’m so guilty of this.

Best of… October 2013

via Sorakeem

If there was a theme to this month’s ‘Best of…’ post, it would be ‘How to wear your boyfriend’s clothes and look completely adorable’.

Or your Dad’s, Brother’s, Grandad’s… whatever.  Make it work.

via Le Blog de Betty

You have to have a certain attitude when you’re wearing your Grandaddy’s clothes.  Betty’s got it down.  I’d aim for just shy of smug. 

via Fashion Toast

via Sincerely Jules

Jules’ coat is a steal from Misguided (not her usual designer threads): available here

via Sorakeem

Love (!) this grown-up metallic backpack

via Sorakeem

via Trop Rouge

via Sorakeem

Interesting fact:  this post starts and ends with two of my favourite style pictures ever.  Of all time.  So perfect.

Hemingway: on writing

I love how most of Hemingway’s advice on being a good writer applies, more generally, to being a good human.

Also, a cocktail inspired by this great man.

Sleeping on Strangers

This video makes my heart sing.

Once, after a couple of sleeping pills knocked me out on a long flight, I awoke to find myself resting on the rigid, bony shoulder of one of my fellow passengers: a young boy (no more than twelve years’ old).  A small drool patch was beginning to form on his t-shirt.  I remember thinking, underneath my mortification, how sweet it was that he didn’t shrug me off.  He let me sleep… for God knows how long.  Now, whenever I hear people complain about ‘kids nowadays’, I like to remember that one.

Say Whaaat?

To-Do List

Johnny Cash’s to-do list, via Messy Nessy Chic

A DIY Project I actually want to do…

I’m forever pinning DIY projects I have no intention of following through with in real life.  But this one! This photo display looks like something I might finish. 

Tutorial here.  Simple, right?

Wardrobe Staples: The Grey T-shirt

Did you read Diana’s post last week about how to create the perfect ‘dressed up-dressed down’ look using a staple grey t-shirt?  I loved the idea since I’m always  conscious about not looking like I spent the whole afternoon getting ready (…even when I did).

Inspired, I just bought this Topshop one and it seems to go with every single other item in my wardrobe.

How to Moonwalk

Since incorrect moonwalking is a global issue.

I love that one man cared enough to make the gifs.  You can hear the passsion in his voice from the first line: “This is literally the exact opposite of the moonwalk.  Stop doing it.”

Anyway, it’s time to get practising so we can all look this cool.

Homemayde

 Noun:  The realization that each random passer-by is living a life as vivid and complex as your own - populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness - an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.