wednesday wishlist

I woke up to 40 degree weather. So first and foremost on my mind is staying warm! So here are some knits to keep us warm here in MN. Is it supposed to be this cold in September? If you don't hear from me tomorrow... it may because my fingers are frozen to my laptop.































1. The Incognito chunky knit cowl in chartreuse - Happiknits
2. Blue Blossom Dog Hat - BeanTownHandmade
3. The Beekeeper in cream - hurleysashimi
4. Pumpkin Beret - PandoraSpocks
5. Flower Wrist Warmers - OlliesWoollies

brrrrrr bring it

I spent the weekend in Chicago with one of my best friends and her family. I've known her for a very long time. Her daughter is almost four and seriously sooooo cute. I wanted to pack her up and bring her home with me. I love that age when they are super silly and fun and chattering away. And she is so smart. Right away when they picked me up at the airport, she was playing with mom's iphone and seriously knew how to totally use it. She was using the itunes to play her favorite songs and sing along. This is a kid who never really got into nursery rhymes, she likes Beyonce's Put a Ring on it, T-Pain's Apple Bottom Jeans, and Big & Rich's Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy. I was hysterical, had tears running down my face as she sang along.

We had some girl time just relaxing and hanging out. then went to their cabin and went boating on the chain of lakes. It was a great time and I miss them already.

I came back to MN and it is FREEZING. I swear it was almost 80 degrees when I left! When I landed it was 55! I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of fall and winter, that's part of why I love Minnesota so much. (And why I have an obsession with winter coats.) And because I'm one of those girls whose hair totally does not agree with hot humid weather. I always wished I was like my friends who have naturally straight hair that can just air dry and be perfect. I have to fight with a hair dryer and flat iron if I want to achieve that. Which is not fun in hot weather. Plus when you walk outside, all the curl starts creeping back. And not in a pretty way, its more like a wavy frizzy mess.

But I wasn't prepared yet for such a quick change in temp. I came home and immediately pulled out my Uggs and winter coats, added more blankets to my bed. Bring on the cold weather, now I'm prepared.

well-dressed package

I am in love with all the cute packing tape that is out there now. Let's face it. Shouldn't your packages be as stylish and well dressed as you are? This tape is such an easy way to sass up a boring old box.

I am obsessed with and often spend as much time wrapping my presents as I do picking them out. Am I already thinking about Christmas? That seems wrong. But a girl's got to plan ahead and be prepared. Check these out, the colors and patterns are endless.

lace tape from oboiler.com
gorgeous tape assortment from tapeswell.com
palette of solid colors and set of striped tape from thetintedmint.com
tulip and lace tape sampler set from hebeaccessories.etsy.com

wednesday wishlist

This week I am longing for these gorgeous items for my home.

































vintage wallpaper lampshades from drawflowers.etsy.com
parlour chair in tangerine from cb2.com
i love orange flowers pillow from jamtartbaby.etsy.com
print: "and then he kissed her" from seasprayblue.etsy.com
circles in citrus pillow from pillowhappy.etsy.com

spread the etsy love

I wanted to share a new etsy shop. My Aunt has beautiful photography that you can find at islandwomanstudio.etsy.com. She is a talented artist in many different mediums. I fondly remember taking painting lessons from her at a very young age. Recently Dawn bought a charming log-sided house on an island in northern Minnesota, where some of her photos were taken, along with photos from many of her travels. Definitely check out her shop.

cool new beads

I really love these fun beads I found. I think this new necklace has a unique, retro feel to it. I thought I'd share it with you. Check it out in my shop STELLA+HODGE. What do you think?

FREE networking guide

Jordan of BusinessMinded.etsy.com has so kindly shared some wonderful info in her new FREE etsy marketing guide. If you are anything like me, all the time that can be spent on marketing your shop can be very overwhelming. This guide lays out a practical system and even gives you a worksheet to keep track of your efforts.

Visit her blog to download this guide handmadesuccess.blogspot.com and visit her shop for other great guides.

my shop has NEW prints!

I have been busy working on new stuff for my shop. I've added some fun new prints and will soon have a lot of new jewelry. I've photographed everything, but it's a process writing descriptions and uploading 12 new necklaces and 16 new pair of earrings. A sneak peek at those will be coming soon!

But now...more about these prints. I really enjoyed working on these and each one is fun for a different reason. Ride Wheelies has a playful nostalgic feel to it, with a message of take chances and I love the polka dots, and Happily Ever After I think would make a super cute wedding gift with the idea that fairy tales do come true. Dream Big is a bold reminder to push ourselves, and Fairest of Them All is a feminine note to remember to love ourselves. Sleep Tight is a super cute illustration of a little owl at bedtime and Fly Me to the Moon is an illustration with Stella, who you should recognize, taking a night time imaginary trip to the moon to play among the stars, inspired by one of my favorites, Frank Sinatra. Let me know what you think of all the new prints, I always appreciate your thoughts.

baby gifts

My best friend recently had a baby boy. Moms love anything that can make their life easier and friends of those moms love giving unique gifts. So I put together a selection of some of my favorite baby stuff I found on etsy. I think the most clever is the sushi for baby, but they all make super sweet gifts.






























Little mouse felted merino baby ankle booties by PrettyLittle
Baby bodysuit with necktie applique by SuperSweetCreations
Pinwheel mobile by mamax2
Rollup changing pad by claireandjanae
Custom hand stamped birthstone necklace by CandaceKane
Cotton stripey tie knot beanie by charliemai
Mod apples pacifer clip by SaritaBaby
Park avenue baby rag quilt by alamodefabric
Deluxe washcloth sushi for baby by SushiForBaby
Bundle custom burpcloth set by littlebowpeep
Modern baby memory book by rubylovesdesigns
Diaper clutch purse by Sweetnsassybaby

new TV season

I'll admit it. I'm kind of a TV junkie. I have my specific shows I love watching. Some have already started and some are starting soon. I'm a big fan of Mad Men, Entourage, The Office, 30 Rock, Project Runway...and the list goes on.

One of my favorites, The Office will be starting its new season and I came across this item on etsy. I love these Ode to the Office prints by Elloh.etsy.com. Ellen is a talented artist/designer from Philadelphia. And I just love how she captures the different expressions we so often see on each hilarious character in The Office.

intervention with myself

I have been in a very unproductive place lately and am not happy with myself. Does everyone have moments where they feel so unmotivated they can barely leave the house? Seriously, I need to snap out of it. I'm still out of work. I'm no longer seeing the guy I was dating. And now live alone, which makes it so easy to just curl up and disappear. I have so much I need to get done, LIKE BLOGGING REGULARLY, working on my shop, finishing my portfolio, working on some new illustrations and patterns, getting art on my walls, etc. But nothing gets done. I have been saying I need to go grocery shopping for like 2 weeks now, nope haven't done that. I feel ridiculous. I'm a single girl, with all the time in the world, yet somehow can't pull it together. I often wonder how people with families stay on top of everything. I was going to spend the long weekend at my family's cabin. But I seriously think I need an intervention with myself. It's not like I'm depressed, at least I don't think I am. I almost just don't know where to start to get my life back in order to start being productive again. So I think I will stay in town this weekend and make a big list of things I need to do. I'm a big fan of lists. They really help me accomplish things. If anyone has any tips on how to get your shit together, let me know. I would greatly appreciate some pointers. For now I'm going to go get ready for happy hour. Isn't exactly the place to accomplish anything on my list other than preventing starvation and dehydration. But at least I'm leaving the house. Stay tuned...