New blog, new look!

Well...we finally took to plunge and started a whole new Etsy shop, look and blog. 

Simon et Cie is my new love.  It means Simon & Co in french.  My new shop will include all of the neat vintage supplies you've come to love as well as my handmade illustrations, collages, jewelry and everything else in between!  Basically, you'll find all kinds of little treasures to inspire your heart and imagination. Come visit us here:

http://www.simonetcie.etsy.com/

http://www.simonetcie.blogspot.com/

We'll start blogging again on our new blog soon.

Gone fishin'

I am on a long hiatus that has been a long time coming and I love it. It does feel quite weird not having to wake up for my day job every morning. I have been off from work for 2 weeks and still can't shake that feeling that I am supposed to "be somewhere." I bet that by the time I get used to it it will be time to get back to work. Ha!

Cuteness to the nth degree

This video is just so cute it makes me happy.

Alice in Wonderland



Antique Caldecott Picture by Treasureisle



I was perusing some of my favorite stores on Etsy recently and came upon this quirky little pitcher from AlicesLookingGlass. Never mind that the store is super aptly named!  Doesn't this little pitcher remind you of one The Mad Hatter might pour some cream in your tea from? I fell in love with it.



Pitcher from AlicesLookingGlass


So I decided that I am going to have a virtual vintage tea party of my own.  Let's see...what else do we need...how about a nice little teapot?




Tarnished antique silver teapot available at Katybitsandpieces



And we need cups of course!  These will do nicely...

Ruby tea cups available at suesuegonzalas

But I bet I have more than just the Queen of Hearts and 2 minions over for tea, so I probably need a few more cups. How about these...

Teacups available at Kristinenoeldecor

And it just wouldn't be a great party without everyone getting their own crown!

Santos crowns available at sadieolive

Now, I can't forget the coffee...yeah yeah, I know...it's a TEA party, but with a name like Coffeemonkey how could I not serve coffee?  There's enough room on the table for both...

Great antique Reed & Barton coffee pot available at 1900sBride

My best friend The White Rabbit will definitely be joining us...

Vintage white rabbit soft sculpture available at ReuseRecyleRedux

I am going to have to get going on invitations here pretty soon...Any ideas?

Black & White

Available in my Etsy shop

One of my lovely vintage rabbit targets was recently featured in this lovely black & white inspired treasury.  What a great collection, don't you think?

Curated by magalerie

Check it out in its full beauty here.

Esta Soledad

I am probably the last to know about this wonderful artist. If I am not, then you must hear this.  Carla sings in Spanish and her lyrics are really beautiful. If you don't speak Spanish, the melody is enough to keep you entranced, so listen away anyway!

For the office supply enthusiast

Vintage red fountain pen available in my etsy shop

There's not much more satisfying to me than a fantastically old fountain pen gliding over some A4 sized paper with some other European characteristics such as those really neat grid patterns. Or maybe just some beautifully aged vintage paper will do too.

Vintage Globe notebook available at SaturdayAMvintage

Ok, I am an office supplies geek.  I'm not sure where that came from, really. I am just enamored with anything related to writing, typography, fountain pens, old typewriters, fonts, paper and everything else in between.  I must have picked up the nerdiness from all those books I read.

Lovely bright orange Hermes typewriter available at SarahAnntiques

I search Etsy high and low for office supplies because I like them so much. One day, I stumbled upon this shop that wrapped a lot of the things I love in one package.  I fell in love.

Custom A5 Organizer available at Bubbo

Natasha, the shop owner, is one of the nicest individuals you'll ever come across.  She made me a custom organizer complete with all my specified geek necessities.

5 Bulldog clips available at Bubbo

Not only that, but she also included one of her neat little "fake NYC" prints.  Aren't these awesome?

Fake NYC print available at Bubbo

Please do check out her shop for other beautiful prints and customizable and/or printable organizers and notebooks of your own.

Bubbo note book

And check out all other Etsy shops in this post too. Great stuff!

Jar of Hearts

43 mini red heart buttons available at TheBestCraftSupplies

Since I am on a "mood" kick, I thought I'd share this song.  You've probably already heard of Christina Perri as she's been climbing the charts since she was discovered on youtube a little while back. But just in case you haven't:

Mood

Vintage darning egg available at thecathedral

I was recently featured in a fantastically moody treasury. It's amazing how a few pictures can create a certain  mood.  Doesn't this one say "Hitchcock" for sure?

A Hitchcock Storyboard curated by thecathedral

It was curated by a fellow Etsian, thecathedral whose shop I am super excited to have been introduced to.  You should see the photographs! 

Vintage globe available at thecathedral

I love myself some complicated photos sometimes, but simple is always what I am most attracted to.  The simplicity in thecathedral's shop photos make me happy. 

Vintage brass hunting horn available at thecathedral

And especially because they also evoke a great sense of moodiness (which I really like). Perfect photos for a great shop with a great name.  Check it out here. 

Tin church incense burners by thecathedral

And of course, the shop wouldn't be complete with great items.  Which is the point, right?  I mean check out this awesomely artsy book for instance.  

The Frenchman book available at thecathedral

And for that matter all the other items in the photos in this post.  Fantastic items, aren't they?

Vintage monarchy jubilee and coronation mugs available at thecathedral

I heart you

Curious by Artmind

One of my favorite things, whenever I am financially able, is to support other artists by purchasing their art.  I love all artists, but I have a little weakness for artists from Belgium as I was born there.  Artmind is one of my favorite Belgian artists on Etsy. 

Empty by Artmind

Her work conjures up such emotion!  And I love that she manages to do so with such a limited palette of color.  Her simple, lovely babushkas are embellished with nothing but her raw talent, imagination and strategically placed ceramic textures, carvings, or tiny props here and there (such as a little red rubber band, a syringe or barbed wire). 

Tense by Artmind

However simple her sculptures are, Artmind succeeds in making you "feel" her work by just looking at it.

Hungry by Artmind

Ok, I have to show you one more for the road. I just can't help myself.  It's so hard to pick just a few of these to post!

Sick by Artmind

And don't forget to check out her cute little greeting cards here.  Just looking at the lovely simplicity of them makes me happy!

I heart you greeting card by Artmind